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DOCTOR  IN  MUSIC  OF  SYDNEY  SUSSEX  COLLEGE,  CAMBRIDGE 

ORGANIST  OF  THE  CHURCHES    OF   ST.  JAMES  AND 

ST.  NICHOLAS,  BRISTOL,  ENGLAND,  1819-1838 

ORGANIST  AND  DIRECTOR  IN  TRINITY 

PARISH,  NEW  YORK,  1839-1859 


With  the 


Compliments  of  the  Author 


Clarum  et  venerabile  nomen 


5) 


G.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS 

NEW    YORK  LONDON 

27   WEST   TWENTY-THIRD    STREET  24   BEDFORD    STREET    STRAND 

9^e  f  nicKnbockex  $rtss 


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EDWARD  HODGIBS'^'^'-" 


rf0  1O««,  •  •■'■ 


DOCTOR  IN  MUSIC  OF  SYDNEY  SUSSEX  COLLEGE,  CAMBRIDGE 

ORGANIST  OF  THE  CHURCHES    OF   ST.  JAMES  AND 

ST.  NICHOLAS,  BRISTOL,  ENGLAND,  1819-1838 

ORGANIST  AND  DIRECTOR  IN  TRINITY 

PARISH,  NEW  YORK,  1839-1859 


By   His   Daughter 

FAUSTINA  H.  HODGES 


"  Clarum  et  venerabile  nomen  " 


G.  P.  PUTNAM'S   SONS 

NEW    YORK  LONDON 

27   WEST   TWENTY-THIRD    STREET  24   BEDFORD    STREET    STRAND 

9^e  f  mthnbothex  $rts8 

1896 


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CoPYftlGHT,    1896 
BY 

G.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS 


Ube  'Rnicl?ecl)OCljer  press,  t\cv9  Borft 


NOTE. 

MISS  FAUSTINA  HASSE  HODGES, 
eldest  daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  Edward 
Hodges,  herself  a  gifted  musician  and  organist, 
had  in  preparation  for  many  years  a  memoir  of  her 
Father,  ''the  founder  and  illustrious  representative 
of  the  Anglican  cathedral  school  of  music  in  the 
American  Church."  Miss  Hodges  died  in  1895, 
before  completing  her  labor  of  love,  and  from  the 
mass  of  material  she  had  collected,  the  following 
selections  have  been  made  by  Miss  E.  Dodds,  at 
the  request  of  the  Executors. 

The  work  has  been  revised  by  her  brother,  the 
Rev.  J.  Sebastian  B.  Hodges,  D.D.,  Rector  of 
St.  Paul's  Church,  Baltimore,  and  is  now  published 
as  her  loving  tribute  to  the  memory  of  her  Father. 

New  York,  April,  1896. 


Zco4/0 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER 

I. — Boyhood  and  Youth 

II. — Early  Married  Life 

III. — Doctor's  Degree  at  Cambridge  University, 

IV. — Glimpses  of  my  Father's  Life  as  Seen  in 

his  Diary 
V. — More  Diary  Extracts  . 

VI.— The  Windsor  Trial 

VII. — Last  Years  in  Bristol 

VIII. — Tempora  Mutantur 

IX. — Early  Days  in  America 

X. — The  Hudson  Street  Home 

XI. — My  Father's  Three  Organs 

XII. — Dr.    Hodges    at    St.    Paul's   Chapel,    and 
Trinity  Church  . 

XIII. — My  Father's  Musical  Work 
XIV. — My  Father's  Anthems  . 
XV. — Musical  Life  in  New  York 
XVI. — My  Father's  Inventions 
XVII. — The  Last  Sounds  from  the  Harp  of  Many 

Strings 

XVIII. — The  Churchyard  at  Stanton  Drew 
XIX. — Disconnected    Recollections    Extending 

over  Many  Years 
XX. — Reminiscences  by  Dr.  Morgan  Dix 


PAGE 

I 

8 

28 

40 

55 
70 

81 

99 
107 

123 

132 

143 

151 

160 

175 
194 

211 
221 

232 
244 


VI 


Contents 


CHAPTER 

XXI.- 
XXII.- 

XXIII.- 

XXIV.- 


-Reminiscences  by  Various  Friends 

-In   Memoriam.     Testimony   to   his   Worth 
FROM  Various  Journals      .         .         .         . 

-Reminiscences   by   Dr.    S.   Parkman   Tuck- 
erman    ........ 

-Conclusion 


PAGE 

269 

286 
298 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 


Bristol 


Frontispiece 
ix 


Portrait  of  Edward  Hodges    . 

Portrait  of  Faustina  H.  Hodges 

All  Saints'  and  St.  Nicholas'  Churches, 

Malmesbury  Abbey        .... 

Priory  Lodge,  Bristol 

Cloisters,  Bristol  Cathedral    . 

Sydney  Sussex  College,  Cambridge  . 

Trinity  Chapel,  Cambridge 

King's  College  Chapel,  Cambridge   . 

Clifton 

St.  George's  Chapel,  Windsor     . 

St.  Stephen's,  Bristol  .... 

Residence  of  Dr.  Hodges  in  the  Cloisters,  Bristol 

Norman  Gateway  from  Lower  College  Green 

Norman  Arch  in  College  Green,  Bristol 

St.  Mary's,  Redcliffe,  Bristol   . 

Temple  Church,  Bristol      .... 

Priory  Lodge 

Bristol  Cathedral       ..... 

Bristol  Cathedral 

Norman  Vestibule  of  Chapter  Room,  Bristoi 
Clifton  Parish  Church 
Malmesbury  Abbey       .... 
Clifton  Churchyard   .... 


I 
8 

12 

i8 
28 

32 

38 

60 

72 

86 

96 

104 

120 

136 

152 
166 
182 
190 
198 
204 
210 
216 


Vll 


VIU 


Illustrations 


St.  Mary's  Church,  Stanton  Drew 
Stanton  Drew      .... 
St.  Mary's  Church,  Stanton  Drew 
Malmesbury  Abbey 
St.  Mary's  Church,  Stanton  Drew 
University  Church,  Cambridge  . 
St.  James's  Church,  Bristol 


PAGE 
222 

226 

230 

248 

264 

272 

292 


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PREFACE. 


THIS  book  is  in  no  sense  a  life-narrative,  but 
is  merely  meant  to  preserve  in  vivid  colouring 
and  freshness  some  of  the  marked  events  of  my 
Father's  life ;  and  more  especially  the  striking 
individualities  of  his  character,  with  the  impressions 
they  created  on  the  lives  and  minds  of  those  with 
whom  he  came  in  contact ;  running  through  all,  the 
golden  thread  of  his  musical  life  and  work,  yet 
without  being  an  approach  to  a  scientific  account 
of  his  musical  career. 

It  is  supported  by  facts  taken  from  his  early 
journals  and  a  few  letters,  until  my  own  memory 
takes  up  the  subject — a  subject  to  which  I  can  never 
do  justice.  I  have  written  as  an  observer,  as  a 
Tnusician,  and  as  a  daughter ;  but  in  all  these  I 
must  fall  short. 

Having  touched  upon  my  Father's  diaries,  I 
must  go  on  to  say  that,  above  and  beyond  their 
being  absolutely  astonishing  as  to  their  size  and 
number,    they     are    equally    so    as   specimens     of 


IX 


X  Preface 

beautiful  writing — ready  for  the  press  as  they  leave 
his  hand,  perfect  in  diction,  refined,  often  classic  in 
style,  and  all  in  marginal,  indexical,  and  datal  order. 

And  they  present  a  Life  ;  his  life. 

Beginning  at  fifteen,  after  the  "  translation  "  of 
his  father,  a  hard,  rational,  boyish,  practical  life  of 
work,  diligence,  and  thought ;  steering  clear  of  evil, 
adhering  to  gfood. 

Life,  evincing  strength  of  purpose,  steadfastness 
in  religious  principles  ;  regular  observance  of  Sun- 
day, and  thoughtful  attention  to  sermons. 

Life  in  emotion,  religious  and  passionate  ;  life  in 
effort,  surmounting  difficulties  ;  life  in  progress,  in 
music,  in  reading,  in  study,  in  observation,  In 
scientific  research,  in  inexhaustible  power  and 
generality  of  invention. 

Life  In  practical  philosophy.  Life  in  politics,  as 
embracing  duty  to  man,  to  his  country,  and  to  his 
sovereign. 

Life  In  adversity,  in  resistance  to  temptation  ;  in 
social  enjoyment  and  mental  elevation. 

Life  in  sorrow  and  loss. 

Life  as  a  battle-ground. 

Life  in  Its  highest  aspirations  ;  life  as  a  probation. 

Life  in  hope,  in  patience  (which  never  failed),  in 
tribulation,  in  faith,  in  trust  and  resignation  ;  and 
in  and  through  all  these  :  life  in  victory. 


Preface  xi 

In  studying  m}^  Father's  life,  one  must  be  struck 
with  the  variety  and  versatiHty  of  his  powers,  and 
the  thorough-going  earnestness  with  which  he  fol- 
lowed up  any  one  of  them.  His  knowledge  was 
never  allowed  to  remain  superficial. 

For  the  time  that  any  one  subject  occupied  his 
mind,  it  was  pursued  with  such  whole-headed  zeal 
and  vigour  and  exhaustiveness,  that  that  one  seemed 
as  if  it  must  be  the  pursuit  of  his  life. 

He  went  deeply  into  the  study  of  Natural 
Philosophy ;  and  found  it  quite  natural  that  he 
should  compare  his  thoughts  and  their  results 
with  those  of  Sir  Isaac  Newton,  where  they  met 
on  musical  grounds. 

This  penetrating  and  microscopic  sense  of  his 
seemed  to  accompany  and  to  govern  him  in  all  sub- 
jects that  attracted  him  as  being  worthy  of  thought 
at  all. 

Such  was  his  tone  of  mind  when,  quite  young, 
he  took  up  Chemistry,  and  then,  later,  Mechanics, 
and  the  abstruse  Science  of  Acoustics,  and  the  laws 
of  the  String,  and  the  nature  of  Sound.  What  a 
fountain  of  glorious  action  and  investigation  is 
indicated  by  these  flowing  and  unending  streams  of 
thought,  going  out,  as  it  were,  into  so  many  lands 
and  regions  of  inquiry  ! 

Side  by  side  with  the  universality  of  his  inven- 


xli  Preface 

tiveness,  goes  his  practicableness.  He  always  saw- 
that  he  could  gain  his  point,  though  he  knew  well 
the  means  to  do  so  could  be  improved.  Each 
one  of  his  schemes  meant  something  useful,  some- 
thing to  help  on  to  more  perfect  knowledge.  This 
is  easy  to  see  ;  and  the  only  things  difficult  to 
realize  as  we  read  are  his  youth  and  far-ahead- 
ativeness,  according  to  the  advancement  of  art  and 
science  then,  and  the  practical  application  of  so 
many  subjects  on  which  he  wrote  and  thought. 
Many  of  his  plans  and  inventions  may  appear  crude, 
but  their  very  clearness  and  possibility  disarm  criti- 
cism, and  we  love  to  read  them  as  the  honest, 
ingenious  workings  of  a  solitary  young  thinker, 
seventy  years  ago.  He  always  had  a  clear  pur- 
pose, a  well-defined  plan  ;  he  knew  what  he  wanted 
to  do,  and  often  solved  difficult  problems  by  the 
work  of  his  own  brain  before  he  had  recourse  to 
help  from  other  minds. 

He  seems  to  turn  to  his  diary-friend  under  every 
stress  of  thought,  every  painful  difficulty  in  life, 
every  outward-run  of  inventive  fancy,  every  passing 
feeling,  whether  sorrowful,  hopeful,  depressing,  ex- 
hilarating, joyful,  crushing,  almost  annihilating — so 
keen  was  his  sensitiveness — as  one  by  one,  either 
in  the  newly  awakened  energy  of  the  morning,  the 
driving  activities    of   the   day,   the    reflection   and 


Preface 


XIU 


sociality  of  the  evening,  or  the  sublime  meditative 
solitude  of  midnight,  they  swept  by  turn  the  chords 
of  that  spirit-harp  so  truly  called  '*A  Harp  of  a 
thousand  strings,"  so  keenly  responsive  was  its 
sound  to  the  touch  of  their  unseen  hands. 

We  are  surprised  also  as  we  read  the  exquisitely 
writte7i  book  ;  not  a  dot,  or  a  comma,  or  a  word 
wanted  or  omitted. 

It  is  wonderful  also  to  observe  how,  after  secur- 
ing his  Doctorate  with  all  the  labour  and  study  and 
real  work  which  his  Exercise  evinces,  and  which 
would  have  been  to  many  a  sufficient  and  whole 
life-work,  he  was  still  not  content,  but  pursued  with 
unabated  vigour  maiiy  other  branches  of  science,  in 
addition  to  the  one  in  which  he  had  gained  pre- 
eminence. He  seemed  to  revel  In  his  dips  into 
Acoustics  and  Sound,  Harmonic  Proportions,  etc. 
His  sign  was  ever  upward  ;  ever  a  learner,  ever 
advancing. 

Another  thing  I  see  as  I  read  is  his  face  over  his 
book.  He  speaks  of  his  having  ''  real  delight"  in 
his  thoughts  and  some  results  of  his  beautiful  Har- 
monic experiments.  How  many  have  delicate 
sensibility  of  thought,  of  perception  and  knowledge 
to  follow  him  there  ?  I  have  seen  his  face  brim 
over  with  happy  thought  as  he  realized  his  own 
suggestions.      Indeed,   I   can  describe   his   face  on 


xlv  Preface 

many  occasions,  but  as  one  full  of  happy  thought, 
and  expressing  a  contented,  intellectual  goodness. 

Reading  at  this  late  day  of  another,  also  un- 
known till  gone  from  us,  the  following  words,  relat- 
ing to  Imn,  come  with  great  force  applied  to  my 
Father  :  "  A  high  and  reverend  simplicity,  which 
vindicates  the  greatness  of  real  goodness,  and  the 
goodness  of  real  greatness." 

His  life  teems  with  touching  Incidents  and  lofty 
thoughts  which  discover  his  great  heart.  His 
sympathy  with  those  In  sickness  or  In  sorrow  was 
sincere  and  practical,  and  instances  of  its  generous 
and  self-denying  expression  are  without  number. 
They  glint  and  glisten  on  the  structure  of  his  beau- 
tiful character,  as  the  sunlight  tips  and  touches, 
point  by  point,  the  Interior  of  one  of  our  own 
cathedrals.  Intelligence  and  benignity  were  the 
lights  of  his  face  and  the  manifestation  of  his  spirit ; 
but  far  more  than  any  glowing  eulogy  would  he 
prefer  me  to  say  what  all  who  knew  him  believed 
to  be  true ;  the  same  words  that  he  used  of  another 
during  his  Bristol  life  :  ''  A  more  honest  and  up- 
right man  than  he  was.  Is  perhaps  not  to  be  found 
on  the  surface  of  God's  earth."  True  of  himself 
also  are  his  few  words  on  the  departure  for  Dub- 
lin  of  Dr.    Okely,   the   Moravian  minister,  a  man 


Preface  xv 

whom  he  loved  and  highly  esteemed  :  ''  Thus  has 
left  us  one  of  the  greatest  men  Bristol  ever  knew  ; 
nay,  Bristol  knew  him  not." 

Two  decades  will  soon  have  passed  away  since 
my  Father  ''  fell  on  sleep."  For  fully  two-thirds  of 
that  time  I  could  write  nothing.  If  I  attempted  it, 
tears  blurred  the  page  as  I  realized  that  the  rare 
and  beautiful  character  I  saw  unfolded  only  too  late 
to  take  it  in,  either  as  a  whole  or  in  detail,  was  gone 
from  me  forever. 

By  effort — continued  effort — I  made  myself  dwell 
on  his  earlier  life,  till  it  grew  into  an  intense  fasci- 
nation. I  lost  sight  of  my  Father  in  the  beautiful 
and  gifted  young  life  I  saw  opening  out  before  me. 
I  felt  for  him  so  keenly  in  his  struggles  that  I 
longed  to  have  been  there  to  aid  and  sympathize 
w^ith  him.  I  saw  how  the  hard,  practical  duties  to 
which  he  fell  heir,  clashed  with,  but  never  quenched 
his  ambition  and  his  determination  to  attain  to  the 
lofty  position  in  art  and  usefulness,  which  by  his 
natural  gifts  he  knew  to  be  his.  I  watched  his 
fortitude  and  endurance  in  difficulty  and  trouble  ; 
I  marked  his  increasing  diligence  in  the  pursuit  of 
knowledge,  and  the  manifestations  of  his  varied 
and  versatile  gifts.  Passing  on  to  his  maturer  life, 
it  seemed  as  though  his  pages  became  luminous  as 


xvi  Preface 

he  told  simply  of  kindly  deeds,  and  unselfish  acts, 
and  sympathy  never  withheld.  Each  glimpse  of 
his  many-sided  character  opened  up  other  scenes 
as  interesting  to  describe  as  the  last.  Both  his 
works  and  his  life  are  its  illustration  ;  the  latter  a 
living  example,  his  musical  works  an  embodiment 
of  scientific  thought  and  consecration  of  talent, 
moving  upwards  to  the  unattainable  here  and  the 
perfect  knowledge  hereafter. 

I  saw  his  great  diligence  for  his  children's  sake, 
and  as  I  realized  what  he  had  done  for  me,  and 
what  I  owe  him,  I  found  that  this  only  was  left  to 
me  :  To  tell  from  my  heart  what  would  recall  him 
to  other  hearts  that  loved  him ;  or,  if  I  should  not 
reach  them,  that  those  who  knew  him  not  **  in  the 
flesh  "  would,  through  my  words,  detect  the  great, 
kindly,  human  heart,  and  the  excellent  Christian 
spirit,  which  in  him  were  mingled  with  the  soul  of 
the  Church  Musician,  and  which  appeared  in  his 
daily  walk,  as  well  as  in  the  loftiest  strains  of  his 
ennobling  harmony. 

I  could  tell  how  he  never  feared  that  ''  enemy  in 
the  rear,  wasted  time  "  ;  and  that,  without  help  of 
any  kind  to  make  him  a  scholar,  he  yet  became  a 
Scholar  in  the  truest  enliorhtenment  of  intellect  and 
mind.  I  could  show  that  although  he  received  no 
help  to  make  him  a  Musician,  yet  he  became  one 


Preface  xvil 

of  England's  most  learned  sons  in  music ;  and 
further,  that  although  he  had  no  training  in  dis- 
tinctive Church  principles,  yet  he  himself  became 
not  only  a  learned  man  In  her  theology,  but  an 
ornament  to  that  branch  of  it  which  England  claims 
as  her  own  ;  which  is  strengthened  by  the  mighty 
intellects  of  her  sons,  and  sealed  by  her  martyrs' 
blood.  He  would  not  despise  my  effort.  Indeed, 
many  things  he  said  to  me  when  he  had  passed 
throuo^h  and  borne  the  burden  and  heat  of  the 
day  and  come  to  his  eventide  rest,  and  which  I 
now  recall,  have  been  an  incentive  and  spur  to 
my  action. 

I  also  realized  that  while  my  Father's  life  was 
one  of  singular  coherence  and  unity  of  aim,  it  had 
been  a  divided  life — divided  by  an  ocean — spent  in 
two  hemispheres.  And  if  it  were  impossible  for 
me  to  collect  the  material  for  an  account  of  that 
life  as  a  whole,  I  could  at  least  bridge  the  chasm, 
and  give  enough  to  satisfy  friends  on  either  shore 
until  the  fuller  narrative  shall  appear,  of  the  love 
and  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  in  his  own  old 
city,  and  of  his  remarkable  experience  and  triumph 
at  Cambridge  ;  and  at  the  same  time,  tell  to  friends 
here  of  his  work  in  Church  Music  in  the  New 
World  ;  of  the  love  of  true  hearts  there,  and  of  the 
widespread  influence  he  gained  in  his  self-chosen 


XVlll 


Preface. 


character  of  a  ''  Musical  Missionary"  ;  and  also  in 
the  more  pathetic  words  he  loved  to  adopt  and  apply 
to  himself,  that  he  was  but  a  "  stranger  and  a  so- 
journer in  the  land." 

F.  H.  H. 

London,  iS86. 


EDWARD    HODGES. 


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EDWARD  HODGES. 


CHAPTER  I. 


BOYHOOD    AND    YOUTH. 


EDWARD  HODGES  was  born  in  Bristol, 
that  old  commercial  seaport,  smoky  city  of 
churches  and  high  chimneys,  on  the  20th  of  July, 
1796.  His  father's  residence,  warehouses,  and 
place  of  business  were  all  in  Bridge  Street,  near 
the  Churches  of  St.  Mary-le-Port  and  St.  Nicholas, 
and  not  far  from  Bristol  Bridge.  It  was  not  a 
very  encouraging  atmosphere  for  a  scholar  or  an 
artist ;  yet  here,  in  spite  of  all  discouragements,  the 
extraordinary  gifts  of  which  young  Edward  was  the 
possessor,  pushed  their  way  into  notice,  as  wind- 
sown  plants  will  do  in  shady  and  stony  nooks. 

His  early  childhood  marked  him  as  possessing  a 
delicate,  intellectual,  and  sensitive  nature  ;  but  he 
had  a  good  constitution.  His  rudimental  instruc- 
tion in  music,  which  was  all  the  musical  instruction 


2  Edward  Hodges 

he  ever  received,  ceased  at  the  age  of  eleven 
or  twelve.  Probably  his  school  life  did  also.  Of 
that  period  no  record  remains  ;  but  this  tradition 
exists,  which  comes  from  a  source  on  which  we  are 
bound  to  rely  :  "  There  is  no  mischief  in  the  school, 
but  Ned  Hodges  is  at  the  bottom  of  it."  So  said 
the  master. 

His  father,  Archelaus  Hodges,  was  the  head  of 
a  large  paper  business,  and  it  was  his  wish,  expressed 
also  in  his  will,  that  his  son  Edward,  the  eldest  of 
three  brothers,  should  succeed  to  it. 

The  time  came  only  too  soon.  His  father,  to 
whom  he  was  deeply  and  tenderly  attached,  died 
when  Edward  was  fifteen  years  old,  and  his  mother 
followed  him  two  years  afterwards.  The  home  was 
broken  up  and  the  little  family  scattered.  The 
brothers  were  sent  to  school,  the  sister  was  taken 
by  loving  friends,  and  Edward  went  to  live  with  his 
cousin,  Mr.  W.  H.  Baily,  the  brother  of  the  sculp- 
tor, E.  H.  Baily,  R.A. 

As  the  years  in  his  regularly-kept  diaries  are  now 
seen  to  pass  under  his  honest  and  graphic  pen,  we 
have  a  marvellous  unfolding  of  the  leaves  of  a  life. 
We  find  him  applying  himself  to  the  business  as 
steadily  as  a  youth  of  life  and  vigour  of  mind  could 
do  to  work  that  was  not  only  hard  and  without  a 
particle  of  pleasure,  but  which  awakened  absolute 


Boyhood  and  Youth  3 

dislike.  His  punctuality,  integrity,  good  sense, 
honour,  honesty,  and  general  trustworthiness  were 
all  brought  into  play  in  turn  ;  and,  young  as  he 
was,  he  was  consulted  and  his  opinion  taken  in 
all  matters  requiring  judgment  and  discrimination. 
At  the  same  time  he  was  full  of  love  for  all  active 
sports,  especially  boating  and  skating.  At  skating 
he  was  a  great  adept,  and  he  invented  and  drew 
diagrams  of  the  Rolling  Skate.  This  is  substantially 
the  same  as  was  invented  later,  and  first  used  in 
Paris.  This  and  two  or  three  other  inventions — 
one  which  he  named  a  "  Bundle  Machine,"  to  re- 
lieve the  burden  of  raising  heavy  loads  on  to  the 
backs  of  men,  another  for  breaking  large  stones, 
and  one  for  raising  heavy  ladders, — were  only  the 
first  of  the  long  list  of  inventions  he  recorded,  some 
of  the  most  important  of  which  are  hereafter  men- 
tioned. 

His  intellect  was  stimulated  by  wide  and  com- 
prehensive reading.  His  gradually  collected  library 
contained  works  on  Chemistry,  Geometry,  Theol- 
ogy, History,  Poetry,  Logic,  Mathematics,  Archi- 
tecture, and  Mechanical  Science.  Into  Chemistry 
he  went  quite  exhaustively.  He  spent  all  his 
money  in  books  and  chemical  apparatus  for  experi- 
ments. Places  of  amusement  are  never  even  men- 
tioned in  his  diary.     He  procured  the  best  author- 


4  Edward  Hodges 

ities  on  every  subject.  Of  languages,  Latin  was 
his  favourite,  and  he  used  it  for  his  daily  journal  for 
months,  in  order  to  acquire  fluency  in  it.  He 
studied  German  and  French,  and  desired  to  add  a 
knowledge  of  Hebrew  and  Greek,  but  time  did  not 
allow  of  their  pursuit. 

And  where  is  Music  all  the  while,  the  great 
master-study  of  his  life  ?  It  seemed  all  these  years 
of  his  youth  to  be  only  a  delightful  social  enjoy- 
ment and  recreation.  The  earliest  mention  of  his 
playing  is  that,  while  still  a  child,  his  father  is 
reported  to  have  often  said  to  him,  ''Come,  Ned, 
play  me  '  Lord  of  all  power  and  might.'  "  He  was 
very  fond  of  practical  jokes,  and  once  puzzled  his 
father  by  shutting  the  cat  in  on  the  piano  keys,  and 
sitting  down  to  read,  quite  ignorant,  apparently,  as 
to  who  was  the  player  of  the  modern  "  Cat's 
Fugue." 

On  the  breaking  up  of  the  Bridge  Street  home  a 
sale  was  advertised  of  all  the  household  effects,  in- 
cluding the  organ.  My  Father  was  distressed  at  the 
idea  of  losing  his  beloved  organ,  and  spoke  to  his 
cousin,  Mr.  Baily,  and  found  that  he  had  a  friend 
at  court.  Mr.  Baily,  who  was  one  of  his  father's 
executors  (the  other  one  being  in  favour  of  selling 
the  organ),  not  only  said  that  the  organ  should  not 
be  sold,  but  that  it  must  be  brought  to  his  house 


Boyhood  and  Youth  5 

that  very  night.  Off  went  Edward  In  high  glee. 
He  had  some  delay  and  difficulty  in  securing  the 
keys  of  the  deserted  house.  That  done,  he  got 
Samuel,  his  porter,  another  man,  and  a  barrow,  and 
before  long  they  were  pulling  the  organ  all  to 
pieces,  placing  it  on  the  barrow,  locking  up  the 
house,  and  wheeling  away  the  dissected  instrument 
through  the  dark  streets  to  Mr.  Daily's  house  in 
St.  James's  Square.  The  mysterious  little  proces- 
sion arrived  at  the  house,  my  young  Father  set  hard 
to  work,  and  by  nine  o'clock  had  it  all  put  together 
again.  He  then  had  a  good  ''play"  on  It  to  cele- 
brate its  arrival  and  the  discomfiture  of  those  who  on 
the  morrow  would  go  to  view  the  "  Organ  for  sale." 

In  his  early  youth  he  and  his  intimate  friends 
formed  a  Musical  Society.  They  numbered  eight 
or  nine,  and  played  both  wind  and  stringed  Instru- 
ment. Money  now  went  for  violincello,  violin,  and 
tenor,  all  of  which  instruments  my  Father  played, 
though  the  'cello  was  his  favourite.  Their  music 
was  also  an  important  Item  of  expenditure  :  they 
bought  largely,  and  of  the  works  of  the  best  com- 
posers, though  they  seem  to  have  played  chiefly 
Hook's  and  Haydn's  Concertos.  They  also  formed 
a  Debating  Society,  and  my  Father  studied  and 
practised  speaking,  so  as  to  be  able  to  express  him- 
self In  public  thoughtfully  and  fluently. 


6  Edward  Hodges 

Sunday  attendance  at  the  Bridge  Street  Inde- 
pendent Chapel,  of  which  his  father  was  a  member, 
and  later  at  Church,  was  never  omitted,  except  in 
case  of  illness,  through  all  these  years.  The  ser- 
mons he  heard  directed  his  attention  to  intellectu- 
ally-religious subjects,  and  of  these  he  loved  to 
converse.  His  religious  opinions  were  matters  of 
conviction  ;  he  had  fought  his  way  to  them  without 
bias  from  any  party  either  in  the  religious  or  secu- 
lar world,  and  therefore  he  could  help  others,  and 
he  did.  When  his  friends  crossed  the  line  between 
revelation  and  rationalism,  he  was  distressed  for 
them,  and  not  only  argued  as  one  whose  feet  were 
firmly  set  on  the  ''  things  which  cannot  be  shaken," 
but  by  lending  them  scholarly  books  and  bringing 
forward  the  power  of  his  own  educated  reason,  he 
strove  with  them  to  bring  them  back  to  the  only 
sure  line  of  thought.  To  him  science  and  religion 
were  inseparable. 

My  Father's  earliest  associations  were  not  in  the 
Church.  His  convictions  and  affections  led  him  to 
it  by  a  gradual  process  of  thought,  after  the  reading 
and  study  of  many  learned  writers  on  the  subject. 
His  mind,  by  its  very  construction,  could  have 
rested  nowhere  else.  His  love,  his  loyalty,  his 
artistic  sense,  could  only  have  been  satisfied  in  that 
Church    of    his   own   country,    in   whose   glorious 


Boyhood  and  Youth  7 

liturgy  and  services  his  highest  gifts  found  utter- 
ance. During  his  early  manhood  he  had  an  intense 
desire  to  study  for  Holy  Orders,  but  the  obstacles 
to  the  attainment  of  his  hopes  were  too  great  to 
be  overcome,  and  he  v^as  obliged  reluctantly  to 
abandon  them. 

His  remarkable  and  almost  sudden  development 
of  latent  musical  powers  may  have  been  due  to  his 
early  concerted  practice  of  music  with  his  com- 
panions, and  the  pleasure  they  had  in  it ;  for  after- 
wards, when  writing  full  anthems  without  previous 
study,  his  accompaniments  showed  a  knowledge 
both  of  orchestration  and  instrumentation.  As  he 
played  his  part  in  these  early  gatherings,  one  feels 
that  he  must  have  noted  not  only  the  musical 
structure  and  combination,  but  also  the  scope,  the 
individuality,  the  nature,  and  powers  of  each 
instrument  employed.  As  he  listened  and  played, 
improvements  suggested  themselves,  which  he 
afterwards  planned,  in  the  trumpet,  the  trombone 
and  the  pianoforte  ;  thus  he  proceeded  step  by  step, 
from  the  power  to  render  simply  and  musically  the 
simplest  melody,  to  the  farthest  intricacies  of  double 
counter-point  and  fugue. 


CHAPTER    II. 


EARLY    MARRIED    LIFE. 


IT  is  the  early  Spring  of  1818.  Leaving  smoky 
old  Bristol  by  chaise  or  coach,  and  passing 
through  already  green  country,  we  arrive  at  the 
old  Town  of  Malmesbury. 

The  River  Avon  runs  through,  and  round  about 
it ;  and  we  soon  catch  a  glimpse  of  what  remains 
of  one  of  the  largest,  richest,  and  most  ancient  of  the 
abbey  foundations  of  England.  We  pass  the  still 
perfect  Market  Cross ;  and  through  a  Norman 
gateway  we  enter  the  ancient  churchyard,  thronged 
with  monuments  and  tombstones,  below  which  lies 
the  human  dust  of  many  centuries.  We  see  the 
whole  southern  side  of  the  Abbey  Church  before 
us.  The  massive  tower  arches  to  the  west ;  and 
parts  of  the  walls  of  the  transept  to  the  eastern 
end,  though  broken,  are  still  standing,  half  covered 
with  rich  thick  Ivy.  We  see  the  beautiful  Clere- 
story windows,  the  flying  buttresses,  and  the  rare 
stone  tracery  around  the  upper  walls.  Only  the 
nave  is  left ;  transept,  choir,  lady  chapel,  all  are 
torn  away  and  gone. 


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Early  Married  Life  9 

Let  us  enter  this  great  Norman  archway,  a  twin- 
sister  to  the  one  at  Tewksbury  Abbey.  This  is 
now  the  Parish  church.  Across  the  eastern  end  is 
a  great  modern,  unsightly  wall.  What  massive, 
noble  columns  are  these !  What  would  we  not 
give  for  a  sight  of  this  Abbey  Church  at  the  time 
when,  instead  of  the  plastered  wall,  there  opened 
to  view  the  sombre  glories  of  the  eastern  end  !  Pass- 
ing up  the  aisle  between  the  rigid,  grand  columns, 
is  a  group  of  a  few  persons.  They  pass  up  to  the 
altar  rail.  It  is  a  wedding  :  the  bridegroom  is  the 
young  Bristol  musician,  Edward  Hodges  ;  the  bride, 
Miss  Maro^aret  Robertson. 

Miss  Margaret  Robertson  was  the  youngest 
daughter  of  Mr.  Matthew  R.  H.  Robertson,  of 
Maunditts  Park,  Malmesbury,  Wilts.  Her  family 
were  Moravians,  i,e.,  members  of  Count  Zinzen- 
dorf's  order  of  the  Grain  of  Mustard  Seed,  also 
named  the  "  Unitas  Fratrum."  She  w^as  educated 
at  the  Moravian  school  at  Tytherton,  renowned  for 
its  high  standard  of  music.  In  this  art,  Margaret 
distinguished  herself,  and  became  a  thorough 
student.  She  understood  Harmony  and  Modula- 
tion, and  was  able  to  take  my  Father's  duty  at  the 
organ  if  he  were  prevented  by  sickness.  But  it  was 
in  vocal  music  that  her  rare  excellence  lay.  Her 
voice  was  one  of  power  and  exceeding  sweetness. 


lO 


Edward  Hodges 


She  rendered  the  solos  of  Handel  and  Haydn  with 
superb  effect,  and  especially  revelled  in  that  grand 
free  air  by  Handel,  "O  had  I  Jubal's  lyre,  and 
Miriam's  tuneful  voice."  This  she  sang  at  St. 
Nicholas's  Church,  Bristol,  at  the  baptism  of  her 
second  son,  Jubal,  to  whom  it  seemed  natural  that  she 
should  transmit  a  magnificent  organ  talent,  as  she 
transmitted  her  tuneful  voice  to  her  daughter 
Miriam,  who  as  a  child  possessed  a  wonderful  voice 
in  compass  and  sweetness. 

My  Father  records  his  resolution  to  choose  none 
but  a  musical  wife.  She  was  united  to  him  on  the 
day  she  was  nineteen.  A  romp  in  childhood,  she 
grew  up  to  be  a  happy-hearted,  winning,  amiable, 
lovely  girl  ;  and  developed  into  a  devoted,  loving 
wife  and  mother.  She  bore  the  afBiction  of  a  long 
illness  without  a  murmur,  and  even  cheerfully. 
And  as  my  memory  holds  her  dear,  she  was  one  in 
whom,  during  her  short  life  here  below,  dwelt  every 
Christian  grace. 

The  Children  of  Edward  and  Margaret  Hodges  were  : 


George  Frederick  Handel 

Faustina   Hasse     . 

Miriam 

Jubal     .... 

John  Sebastian  Bach     . 

Deborah 

Cecilia    .... 

Asaph    .... 


DIED    AT   THE   AGE   OF 

20  years. 
72  years. 
15  years. 
42  years. 

2  years    (about) 
I  year     (about) 


Early  Married  Life  ii 


Not  lonor  did  mv  Father  remain  in  the  dull  and 
noisy  surroundings  of  the  Bridge  Street  parental 
home  where  he  took  his  bride  in  1818.  He  found 
his  way  naturally  enough  towards  the  Cathedral. 
Passing  through  the  Norman  gateway,  which  no 
doubt  was  the  principal  entrance  to  the  Monastery 
of  St.  Augustine,  he  came  to  an  irregular  building 
in  the  Lower  Green,  called  the  Prior's  Lodge.  This 
was  the  only  picturesque  and  interesting  relic  of  old 
times  left.  It  at  once  arrested  his  attention,  and  he 
swiftly  saw  what,  with  a  little  time  and  money,  he 
could  make  of  it.  It  was  Canon  Ridley's  house  for 
two  months  in  each  year,  when  *'In  residence," 
while  my  Father  could  occupy  it  during  the  other 
ten  months.  So,  as  he  used  to  say,  ''  he  com- 
menced operations." 

The  change  that  came  over  the  old  building  In 
a  few  months  was  marvellous.  In  the  great  gable, 
looking  westward,  he  put  a  large  Gothic  stained- 
glass  church  window  ;  and  here  was  his  capacious 
music  room.  The  outside  was  Imposing,  the  Inside 
arranged  for  music.  On  the  apex  of  the  gable,  he 
put  a  stone  cross,  and  up  to  it  before  long  the  Ivy 
climbed.  He  planted  many  trees,  and  himself  cul- 
tivated his  sequestered  garden,  trained  and  pruned 
his  vines,  and  gathered  grapes  plentifully, — chiefly, 
as  he  says,  ''  for  Margaret." 


12  Edward  Hodges 


The  London  AtJiencBUTn  thus  refers  to  Priory 
Lodge  shortly  after  its  demolition  In  1884  • 

"The  fine  old  fifteenth  century  house  at  the  S. 
W.  angle  of  the  Bristol  Cathedral,  the  so- 
called  '  Minster  House  '  or  *  Prior's  Lodge,'  has 
recently  been  pulled  down,  quite  without  excuse, 
by  the  Dean  and  Chapter.  It  was  not  only  a  valu- 
able specimen  of  Mediaeval  architecture,  but  was 
also  of  special  value  as  being  one  of  the  very  small 
parts  that  still  existed  of  the  monastic  buildings  of 
the  old  Augustine  Abbey  of  Bristol." 

Here  in  Priory  Lodge  his  amateur  musical  friends 
regularly  assembled  in  numbers,  enjoying  to  the 
utmost  his  social  gatherings,  and  singing  his  newly- 
composed  anthems,  and  anon  the  catches  and  glees 
which  his  humorous  and  fertile  fancy  threw  off  with 
ease  and  freedom.  "  Truly,"  he  said,  *'  my  music 
room  is  the  envy  of  one  sex  and  the  admiration  of 
the  other."  It  was  Indeed  altogether  a  dwelling 
that  would  satisfy  the  most  ecclesiastical  craving, 
being,  as  it  were,  under  the  very  shadow  of  the 
Cathedral  Tower. 

We  get  little  pictures  at  this  time  of  his  musical 
life  in  the  Prior's  Lodge  very  pleasant  to  see.  I 
make  a  few  Diary  extracts,  including  his  words 
written  on  the  day  of  his  taking  possession  : 

"  Sept.  27,  1822.     Hard  at  it  in  removing.     Struck  the 


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Early  Married  Life  13 


bedsteads  and  fairly  changed  my  habitation.  Dined  at 
Bridge  St.  for  the  last  (regular)  time,  and  after  much 
bustle  and  some  little  confusion,  we  all  had  comfortable 
tea  here  in  College  Green.  May  the  Lord  preserve  us  and 
make  us  to  show  forth  His  praise  here  tenfold  more  than 
we  ever  have  done  in  our  former  house. 

"  N.  B.  At  midnight  I  was  in  my  Oriel  window  enjoy- 
ing the  beauties  of  the  look-out  by  moonlight. 

"Oct.  5.  Immediately  after  breakfast,  I  proceeded  to 
business  and  labouring  hard  all  day  I  got  the  Organ  to- 
gether and  in  tolerable  tune  before  9  o'clock.  I  then 
sang  a  Solo  ('  Now  Vanish  ')  from  the  Creation.  The 
music  goes  capitally  in  that  new  room  ;  but  I  7nust  get  a 
new  Organ. 

"  Oct.  12.  My  brother  Britton  popped  in  to  supper, 
and  we  had  a  little  music  ;  he  with  his  Flute,  Margaret 
the  Organ,  and  I  the  second  Violin  or  Tenor. 

"  Dec.  9.  We  had  some  Instrumental  Music,  I  playing 
second  Violin  !  Margaret  the  Organ,  Kimber,  Bass  ;  Hill, 
Flute  ;  Withington,  ist  Violin. 

"  26.  William  Okely  and  I  amused  ourselves  by  scrap- 
ing on  the  Fiddle  and  Bass.  Went  skating  again  with 
Okely. 

"  I  have  given  one  grand  Rout  at  which  one  of  the 
Sheriffs  of  the  City  did  me  the  honour  to  be  present." 

In  numbering  his  household  at  the  end  of  the 

year  he  says  : 

"  Myself  as  Master 
Margaret  as  Mistress 
G.  F.  H.  H.,  a  son  and  heir 
Two  maids 
Nimrod  the  dog,  and 

The  cat,  whom  we  brought  from  Bridge  St.,  and  who 
seems  to  relish  her  new  quarters  very  much. 

From  my  little  Study  in  the  Lower  College  Green." 


14  Edward  Hodges 


fe 


''Jan.  9,  1823.  In  the  evening  Daniell  came,  and  he 
Margaret  and  I  played  some  hour  or  two  on  the  Flute, 
Violin  and  Piano  !  !  !  Prior  to  that  Margaret  and  I 
played  through  a  whole  volume  of  Duetts  (viz.  Don  Juan 
by  Dr.  Crotch)  on  the  grand  Piano. 

"June  15.  Spent  two  hours  at  Howell's  playing  Sona- 
tas at  sight  with  Violin  and  Bass  accompaniment.  I  was 
nearly  all  the  morning  practising  Bach. 

"  19.  At  the  Cathedral  ;  sang  Bass  through  the  whole 
service." 

"  July  2.  Tuned  the  old  Harpsichord  for  little  Crook's 
practice."  Previously  he  says,  "  I  occupied  myself  the 
whole  morning  in  doctoring  the  old  Harpsichord."  And 
again,  "  I  accompanied  Mr.  Hague  on  his  Violin  in  some 
ancient  music  on  my  Harpsichord,  in  true  antique  style." 

My  Father  gave  a  succession  of  concerts  in  his 
Music  room,  which  he  styled  the  ''  Nailheart  Con- 
certs." They  were  largely  attended  ;  on  one 
occasion  seventy  and  upwards,  who  all  went  away 
highly  pleased  with  their  entertainment,  a  good 
supper  always  following  the  music.  Sometimes  he 
calls  these  parties  "  Grand  Bawls."  They  seemed 
to  have  been  mightily  enjoyed,  the  singers  and  per- 
formers being  amateurs  and  friends.  They  also 
had  a  society  called  "  The  Larks."  They  met  at 
7  A.M.,  and  sang  an  hour  before  breakfast.  My 
Father  says,  on  one  occasion,  "  I  composed  a  Catch 
for  my  morning  company  the  day  before." 

On  referring  to  the  list  of  his  compositions,  we 
see  that  this   year   he    had    the   heaviest    musical 


Early  Married  Life  15 


works  on  hand,  and  was  not  only  doing  the  duty  of 
two  Churches  and  superintending  the  erection  of 
Clifton  Organ,  but  composing  services  and  anthems 
for  particular  occasions  in  the  Church.  I  omit 
many  entries  of  his  practice  at  the  organ  of  the 
fugues  of  Bach  and  the  overtures  by  Handel.  Of 
the  former,  on  a  previous  occasion,  he  writes  :  "  In 
the  evening  I  had  an  hour  or  two's  spell  out  of  Se- 
bastian Bach.  His  noble  fugues  are  an  inexhaust- 
ible source  of  delight." 

The  organ  of  St.  James's  was  opened  on  Sun- 
day, May  2d,  1824,  and  was  the  first  in  England 
having  the  C  Compass,  and  32  ft.  pipe. 

Diary.     May  i,  1824.     Prior's  Lodge. 

"  The  music  went  off  well,  and  for  the  greater  part  of 
the  time  I  felt  in  good  spirits  for  the  performance." 

"  May  3d.  I  was  almost  all  day  receiving  the  gratula- 
tions  of  my  friends  on  our  yesterday's  exhibition,  which 
seems  to  have  given  universal  satisfaction. 

"  May  7th.  I  received  a  letter  from  the  Vestry  Clerk 
enclosing  the  thanks  of  the  Vestry  of  St.  James's  for  my 
complex  exertions  and  a  vote  for  a  Snuff  Box. 

''This  is  as  it  should  be.     What  shall  I  do  next?  " 

'*  17.  Margaret  and  I  played  through  a  long  duett  of 
Beethoven.  In  the  evening  I  practised  on  the  Piano-forte 
and  Harpsichord,  Moscheles,  Bach  and  Scarlatti. 

*'  June  20.  I  attended  the  Organ  Committee  Meeting, 
where  I  was  presented  in  due  form  with  my  GOLD  SNUFF 
BOX. 

*'  Withington  informed  me  that  the  Right  Worshipful 
the  Mayor  intends  filling  my  new  box  with  snuff  for  me." 


1 6  Edward  Hodges 


A  Bristol  paper,  subsequently  to  1850,  speaks 
thus  of  St.  James's  Church  and  organ  : 

"  The  Benedictine  Priory  and  Parish  Church  of 
St.  James's,  Barton,  were  built  In  1129  ;  the  tower 
in  1374.  The  Church  is  one  of  the  oldest  struc- 
tures in  Bristol,  the  nave  being  Norman. 

"The  celebrated  Dr.  Hodges  was  once  organist 
here. 

"  The  Western  Gallery  contains  the  largest  organ 
in  Bristol,  having  four  rows  of  keys.  This  Organ 
is  a  re-construction  (in  1824)  under  the  direction  of 
Dr.  Hodges.  Besides  being  the  first  in  England 
to  have  the  32  feet  C,  and  most  of  the  Doctor's 
improvements,  it  has  his  own  Triple  Slat  swell  of 
tremendous  crescendo  power,  from  the  veriest /'^V?- 
nissinio. 

"  The  tower  has  a  ring  of  ten  bells  of  remarkable 
beauty  of  tone. 

"  The  motto  on  the  fifth  (B)  is,  '  Fear  God  and 
honour  the  king.' " 

In  September,  1824,  he  removed  from  the  Prior's 
Lodge  to  the  Prebendal  House  in  the  Cloisters, 
belonging  to  Lord  William  Somerset,  Canon  of 
the  Cathedral. 

Of  the  Bristol  Cloister  properly  speaking  {i.c^ 
the  arcade  of  stone-work  which  formerly  lined  each 


Early  Married  Life  17 


side  of  the  quadrano^le,  as  at  Gloucester  and  West- 
minster now)  only  the  eastern  side  remains.  This 
has  entrances  to  the  Cathedral,  the  Chapter  Room, 
the  Churchyard,  and  the  Bishop's  Palace.  These 
cloisters  surrounded  the  burial  grounds  of  the 
monks  in  many  cathedrals  ;  though  some  of  them 
may  have  been  done  away  with  in  the  destructive 
changes  that  overtook  our  monastic  establishments 
in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII. 

Within  this  Bristol  Cloister  one  of  the  grandest 
specimens  of  Norman  architecture  is  to  be  found, 
consisting  of  the  vestibule  of  the  Chapter  Room, 
and  the  Chapter  Room  itself ;  the  interlaced  arches 
being  in  perfect  preservation,  and  the  pillars  of  the 
vestibule  very  massive  and  grand.  My  Father's 
residence  occupied  the  whole  southern  side  of  the 
quadrangle.  There  was  something  fascinating  to 
him  in  all  this,  and  here  he  used  to  walk  and  medi- 
tate at  night,  when  no  sound  broke  the  stillness  but 
the  watchman's  rather  plaintive  cry,  and  the  regular 
sound  of  the  Cathedral  quarter-bell. 

It  is  probable  that  he  here  thought  out  his  degree 
exercise  ;  his  chosen  words  being  **The  dead  praise 
not  Thee,  O  Lord,  neither  all  they  that  go  down 
into  silence."  At  that  time  as  he  may  have  stood 
at  the  churchyard  gate  when  the  night  wind  swept 
coldly  over  the  thickly-laid  graves,  the  words  would 


1 8  Edward  Hodges 


come  with  terrible  meaning,  but  he  follows  them 
with  the  succeeding  words  of  life  and  action  :  '*  But 
we  will  praise  the  Lord  from  this  time  forth  for 
evermore.     Praise  the  Lord." 

There  was  in  my  Father  a  blending  of  the  contem- 
plative— and  even  a  strong  vein  of  the  sentimental 
— with  an  intensely  practical  nature  ;  that  ability  to 
work  which  even  Goethe  seems  to  think  but  an- 
other name  for  genius.  It  may  be  that  this  union 
of  the  sublime  in  thought  with  the  intensely  prac- 
tical in  work  forms  the  true  artist. 

Here  then  in  the  cloisters  my  Father  made  his 
home  during  the  remainder  of  his  Bristol  life. 

He  continued  his  work  at  composition,  including 
many  settings  of  whole  Psalms,  and  his  Coronation 
Anthem,  with  full  orchestral  accompaniments,  for 
King  William  IV.  This  latter  he  considered  one  of 
his  best  works.  The  rambling  house,  museum-like 
in  appearance,  resounded  with  the  sound  of  these 
anthems,  grandly  rendered  by  the  large  musical 
parties  assembled  there  :  my  young  mother,  and 
afterwards  my  brother  Handel,  who  inherited  her 
vocal  talent,  always  sustaining  the  leading  parts. 

My  Father  also  had  frequent  chess  parties,  being 
exceedingly  fond  of  the  game.  His  social  circle 
increased  rapidly  and  steadily,  and  being  fearful 
that  the  frequent  informal  gatherings  would  inter- 


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Early  Married  Life  19 


fere  with  his  work  and  home  regularity,  he  put  up 
the  following  couplet  : 

"  All  those  who  wish  to  be  welcome  again, 
Must  please  to  move  homeward  at  half  past  ten." 

His  visits  to  the  Philosophical  and  Commercial 
Rooms  brought  him  into  contact  with  all  the  scien- 
tific  men  of  the  neighbourhood.  His  knowledge  in 
Mechanical  Science  was  said  to  be  profound,  and 
his  suggestions  and  plans  always  in  advance  of  his 
time. 

As  a  citizen  of  Bristol  his  Influence  became 
widely  felt.  He  was  Identified  with  her  progress  in 
every  way.  He  was  consulted  on  public  questions, 
and  his  presence  was  sought  on  civic  occasions. 
Whether  at  public  dinner  or  meeting,  the  impres- 
sion he  left  on  the  minds  of  all  with  whom  he  was 
associated  was  one  of  splendid  moral  courage, 
unflinching  principle,  clear  common  sense  and  fore- 
sight, and  perfect  courtesy  as  a  gentleman.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Tory  ;  but  his  great  heart  was  lib- 
eral. Strong  in  his  churchmanship,  his  Christianity 
was  broad  as  God's  light. 

His  prolific  pen  also  brought  him  into  notice  in 
many  political  scenes  ;  one  of  his  poems,  published  in 
the  Mirror,  entitled  ''  Scenes  in  a  Town  Council," 
which  I  produce  here,  was  full  of  strength,  satire, 
and  humour. 


20  Edward  Hodges 


SCENES  IN  A   TOWN  COUNCIL. 

I. 

I  have  seen  on  a  fine  summer's  morn 
The  industrious  ants  at  their  toil ; 
How  they  labour,  a  small  grain  of  corn 
To  warehouse  beneath  the  hard  soil. 

II. 

I  have  witnessed  the  bees  at  their  work 
Exploring  the  blossoms  all  o'er ; 
How  they  filch  every  sweet  that  may  lurk 
Within  them  to  add  to  their  store. 

III. 

These  things,  I  have  seen  with  delight 
And  would  witness  with  pleasure  again  ; 
But  alas  !  what  a  different  sight 
When  I  turn  to  the  doings  of  men ! 

IV. 

The  ants  and  the  bees. 

Though  they  forfeit  their  ease, 

No  doubt  their  own  pleasure  pursue; 

And  in  this  one  respect 

*Tis  not  hard  to  detect 

A  resemblance  to  that  which  men  do. 

V. 

But  if  you  ask  to  what  that  pleasure  tends, 
Then  here,  alas !  the  pretty  likeness  ends. 

For  bees  and  ants 

(Like  trees  and  plants) 
Subserve  the  purpose  of  their  first  formation, 


Early  Married  Life  21 


But  who  will  dare 
The  same  declare 
Of  this  perverse,  vain-boasting  generation. 

VI. 

Such  was  the  salutation  of  the  Muse 
When  recently  she  came, 
After  long  absence,  to  inquire  the  news 
Of  the  Town-Council  game. 
Etc.,  etc. 

In  the  spring  of  1829  the  ''  No  Popery"  agita- 
tion took  place,  and  Bristol  was  much  excited  in 
consequence  of  Mr.  Peel's  bill  for  the  admission  of 
Roman  Catholics  to  seats  in  Parliament.  Swiftly 
my  Father's  spirit  moved  as  this  breeze  swept  over 
the  land,  and  February  8th  the  following  spirited 
poem,  written  partly  on  Sunday  in  his  organ  gallery 
during  service  at  St.  James's  Church,  was  produced. 
By  Tuesday  it  was  printed  and  posted  up  in  the 
city.     His  diary  says  : 

"  My  poem  seems  to  attract  public  attention  very 
strongly." 

The  next  day  he  set  it  to  music  as  solo  and  chorus  ; 
"  aiming  at  simplicity  and  truth  more  than  learn- 
ing," and  sent  it  up  to  London  for  immediate 
publication. 

No  doubt  he  mingled  with  the  crowds  on  the 
Exchange  who  stood  there    reading  his   spirited 


2  2  Edward  Hodges 


patriotic  words  ;  few,  if  any,  of  them  knowing  that 
the  quaint,  pleasant,  thoughtful-looking  young  man, 
with  the  broad-brimmed  hat  and  unfashionable  cut 
of  coat,  was  the  author  of  them. 

NO  POPERY. 

Up  men  !  for  your  Country,  your  Altars,  your  King, 
And  this  be  the  cry  with  which  Heav'n's  vault  shall  ring. 

No  Popery. 

Though  Ministers  flinch  and  the  Premier  turn  tail, 
The  Protestant  spirit  shall  ever  prevail. 
Then  rouse  yourselves,  Britons,  bestir  you  like  men  ; 
Your  lives  may  be  once  lost,  but  never  again. 

Up  then  for  your  Country,  etc. 

Be  courage,  and  firmness  and  wisdom  combined — 
And  charity  too,  in  each  Protestant  mind  ; 
But  let  not  the  march  of  concession  o'erwhelm 
The  Protestant  safeguards  of  Britain's  fair  realm. 

Up  then  for  your  Country,  etc. 

Our  fathers  where  are  they?     Some,  led  to  the  stake 
For  conscience,  for  faith,  and  for  liberty's  sake, 
Were  fearfully  martyred  by  Rome's  cruel  men. 
Whose  creed  is  the  same  at  this  day  as  't  was  then. 

Up  then  for  your  Country,  etc. 

The  right  both  of  Papists  and  Turks  we  admit, 
To  worship  their  Maker  as  they  may  see  fit ; 
And  yet,  not  contented  with  this,  they  demand 
A  right  to  make  Laws  for  our  Protestant  land. 

Up  then  for  your  Country,  etc. 


Early  Married  Life  23 


Now  God  save  our  King,  our  Religion,  and  Laws, 
And  help  us  if  need  be  to  die  for  our  cause  ; 
Our  famed  Constitution  preserved  unimpaired 
May  thus  by  our  childrens'  descendants  be  shared. 

Up  then !  for  your  Country,  your  Altars,  your  King, 
And  this  be  the  cry  with  which  Heav'n's  vault  shall  ring. 

No  Popery. 

As  a  child  I  was  often  taken  by  my  mother  to 
St.  James's  Church  on  a  Sunday  evening. 

I  remember  the  sound  of  the  bells  as  we  walked 
up  that  churchyard  which  was  so  terribly  filled  with 
grave-stones.  I  remember  the  sight  of  the  crowds 
in  the  galleries  under  the  Norman  arches  and  be- 
low, as  we  passed  up  the  narrow  stair  to  the  organ  : 
and  the  glance  into  my  Father's  mysterious  little 
organ-box  as  I  passed  the  door, — truly  a  magician's 
den  to  me. 

Then  from  my  little  corner  by  the  green  curtain, 
I  could  watch  him  as  he  sat  before  his  four  ranks 
of  keys.  The  organ-loft  was  roomy,  divided  by 
the  projecting  choir-organ  as  usual.  I  used  to 
listen  for  the  sound  my  Father  made  in  drawing  his 
stops  ;  and  catch  his  animated  glances  as  he  spoke 
to  the  gentlemen  opposite,  or  to  his  beautiful  son 
Handel,  who  stood  at  a  raised  desk  at  his  left. 
There  was  such  an  air  of  power  and  mystery  about 
my  Father  as  his  face  and  form  were  brought  out 


24  Edward  Hodo^es 


^5 


into  relief  by  the  gloom  of  his  organ-box  behind 
him.  And  what  a  change  would  come  over  his 
face  as  he  began  to  play  !  "  Play  "  is  not  the  word. 
There  was  both  in  his  face  and  in  the  sounds  he 
evoked  from  the  keys  and  the  pipes  around  him,  a 
suggestion  of  something  unearthly,  almost  inde- 
scribable. 

It  was    customary  at   St.   James's    to   sing   the 
hymn 

"  From  all  that  dwell  below  the  skies  " 

before  the  service,  without  its  being  ''  given  out." 
So  it  fell  to  my  Father's  lot  to  announce  the  en- 
trance of  the  clergy,  and  to  bring  the  whole  mass 
of  the  great  congregation  to  their  feet :  and  this  he 
did  magnificently,  at  the  same  time  raising,  by  his 
magic  power,  the  immense  volume  of  singing  from 
below,  which  was  like  the  surging  of  the  sea.  I 
gazed  down  on  the  great  crowd,  the  many  lights 
seeming  only  to  render  the  old  Norman  build- 
ing more  sombre  as  they  revealed  the  crowded 
galleries  and  recesses  behind  the  round  arches  and 
heavy  columns,  and  the  great  dim  painting  of  the 
Transfiguration  covering  the  eastern  wall  of  the 
church.  Both  the  sight  and  the  sound  were  over- 
powering to  me.  I  felt  that  my  Father  was  not 
playing ;   it  was  a  wonderful  spiritual  giving  out  of 


Early  Married  Life  25 


himself  into  his  music, — or  I  should  say,  into  the 
grand  words  his  music  carried  to  every  heart.  It 
absolutely  controlled  the  hundreds  below,  drew  out 
their  voices  at  his  will,  and  sent  an  electric  thrill 
through  all.  ''  Eternal  are  Thy  mercies,  Lord  !  " 
Mercy  reaching  to  endless  ages  was  the  '!  eternal 
truth  "  he  made  us  feel. 

"  His  praise  shall  sound  from  shore  to  shore, 
Till  suns  shall  rise  and  set  no  more." 

This  was  the  climax,  which  he,  with  illuminated 
countenance  and  magnetic  force,  made  us  feel. 

He  did  not  merely  play  ;  he  forced  on  us  great 
religious  truths.  He  played  on  spirits,  not  on  keys 
only  ;  and  through  the  stops  of  his  organ  he  un- 
stopped our  ears  to  voices  not  of  this  world. 

It  was  then,  as  he  brought  out  the  words  of 
Eternal  Truth,  that  I  first  saw  my  Father  s  face. 
It  was  a  vision  of  an  inspired  and  transformed 
countenance.  Its  light  was  a  living  one,  spiritual 
and  inward,  and  gleamed  with  an  intense  happi- 
ness, as,  revelling  in  the  consciousness  of  his  own 
powers,  his  spirit  seemed  to  ride  those  rolling 
waves  of  harmony  which  he  evoked  from  his  mag- 
nificent organ.  I  cannot  describe  it ;  it  was  the 
face  of  a  spiritual  conqueror  ;  and  I  know  that 
what  I  saw  in  it  then  is  that  by  which  I  shall  know 
him  hereafter. 


26  Edward  Hodges 


Very  original  was  my  Father's  way  of  summon- 
ing us  to  his  study  to  give  us  our  lesson  in  singing 
the  scale. 

Opening  his  door,  he  began  to  "  tune  up  his 
fiddles,"  on  the  piano,  which  was  our  call.  It  was 
an  improvization  in  imitation  of  tuning  the  orches- 
tra to  the  dominating  A,  with  its  background  of 
harmony. 

Running  from  any  occupation  or  any  part  of  the 
house,  we  made  for  the  study,  and  took  our  places 
around  him  at  his  right,  according  to  our  ages,  and 
listened.  From  the  leading  A  came  the  E  (fifth) 
above,  his  fingers  purposely  stumbling  on  the  E^  as 
though  it  needed  tuning  up — the  other  string  notes, 
the  fifths  below,  followed  ;  while  all  the  while  he  ran 
freely  on  in  all  possible  modulations,  his  organ- 
chords  grandly  rolling  in,  and  the  penetrating,  per- 
sistent A  always  steadily  there,  till  at  length,  with 
his  countenance  lighted  up  with  pleasure,  he  got 
his  fiddles  all  tuned  up,  and  made  a  grand  finale, 
while  we  stood  watching,  listening,  and  taking  in 
the  scene  in  silence. 

He  then  proceeded  to  give  a  lesson  in  the  scale, 
and  in  holding  long  notes,  and  managing  our 
breath.  He  paid  great  attention  to  crescendo  and 
diminuendo,  and  always  took  us  to  the  easy  extent 
of  our  voices,  avoiding  straining  them.      He  taught 


Early  Married  Life  27 


us  how  to  breathe  in  and  retain  breath,  as  I,  many 
years  after,  watched  Jenny  Lind  do. 

If  any  one  of  us  did  not  open  his  mouth  suf- 
ficiently, a  gag  was  threatened  and  applied. 

These  were  lessons  of  great  value  for  life,  both 
in  harmony  and  modulation,  and  in  the  true  princi- 
ples of  vocalization  ;  and  never  afterwards  could  I 
attend  a  concert  and  listen  to  the  tuning  of  the  or- 
chestra and  hear  the  fifths  crowding  in,  in  their 
musical  confusion,  while  the  organ  behind  them — 
that  great  thing  of  solid  and  overwhelming  power — 
was  reducing  them  to  order  and  compelling  them  to 
agreement,  without  being  carried  back  to  that  far- 
off  old  cloister  study,  and  seeing  again  my  Father's 
playful,  kindly,  and  beaming  face,  as,  with  the  ser- 
ried ranks  of  books  beyond  him,  he  sat  at  his  piano, 
backing  with  such  spirited  and  manifold  harmonies 
the  ever-recurring,  irresistible  A. 

After  a  good  practice  in  many  keys  he 
*'  chaunted  "  the  ''Nu7ic  Dimittis''  with  us,  and  the 
lesson  was  done. 


CHAPTER  III. 

doctor's    degree    at    CAMBRIDGE    UNIVERSITY. 

IN  May,  1825,  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight,  my 
Father  entered  Sydney  Sussex  College,  Cam- 
bridge, as  a  Fellow  Commoner,  and  proceeded  to 
his  Doctorate  there,  without  taking  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  previously,  as  is  usual.  In  this  he  was 
strenuously  opposed  by  Dr.  Clark-Whitfield,  Pro- 
fessor of  Music  at  Cambridge,  and  organist  of 
Hereford  Cathedral.  The  Professor  also  advised 
him  to  go  to  Oxford  for  his  degree.  This  aroused 
the  spirit  of  the  sister  university,  and  an  effort  was 
immediately  made  to  get  him  entered  at  Trinity 
College.  This  was  refused  on  the  ground  that  no 
musical  degree  was  there  given.  Of  the  correspond- 
ence which  ensued  between  the  Professor,  my 
Father,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Guildford  Waite,  of  St. 
John's  College,  an  old  and  valued  friend  of  my 
Father's  writes  : 


''  Strange  and  almost  incredible  as  it  may  appear, 

the  young  Bristol  organist  and  musician,  without 

28 


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Doctor's  Degree  at  Cambridge  29 


the  culture  and  polish  of  a  University  course,  stands 
out  unmistakably  superior,  not  only  in  the  clear-cut 
sufficiency  of  his  flawless  English,  but  in  ready,  yet 
elegant,  mastery  of  a  perfect  epistolary  style.  He 
never  loses  his  imperturbable  patience  ;  his  temper 
remains  cool  and  collected  ;  he  is  never  betrayed 
into  the  natural  and  even  justifiable  pungency  of  a 
disputant  who  carries  the  most  precious  interests  of 
his  career  in  his  hand.  The  letters  of  Mr.  Hodges 
exhibit  a  world  of  practical  shrewdness,  foresight, 
and  the  quiet  assurance  of  one  who  is  confident  of 
success  and  victory.  The  key  to  the  story  of  his 
success  is  found  in  the  lively  personal  interest  that 
Dr.  Waite  had  conceived  in  the  brilliant  reputation 
which  Mr.  Hodges  had  already  achieved,  which  had 
long  outgrown  the  critical  and  aesthetic  appreciation 
of  his  provincial  city. 

"  Although  a  cathedral  city,  that  reputation  had 
failed  of  recognition  among  the  old-time  officials 
and  place-holders.  The  simple  fact  that  Mr. 
Hodges  had  presumed  upon  a  career  of  the  high- 
est ecclesiastical  music  without  the  indispensable 
pupilage  at  the  feet  of  a  cathedral  organist — and  if 
we  may  trust  the  testimony  of  contemporaries,  not 
a  few  of  the  cathedral  organists  were  poorly  quali- 
fied for  their  high  vocation, — settled  the  question 
so  far  as  Mr.  Hodges  was  concerned,  at  least  among 


30  Edward  Hodges 


the  cathedral  officials  of  Bristol,  and  he  was  turned 
over  to  a  larger,  nobler  criticism  outside. 

*'  Dr.  Waite  proved  to  be  the  man  needed  at  that 
pivotal  period.  Without  his  energetic,  almost  Im- 
petuous urgency,  and  his  semi-official  representa- 
tion, the  young  musician  would  not,  then  at  least, 
have  recognized  the  narrowness  of  his  environment, 
and  demanded  a  more  authoritative  and  learned 
recognition. 

*'  The  world  has  changed  since  1825,  even  in 
Cambridge.  It  Is  an  altogether  different  world  that 
awaits  the  aspirant  for  honors  in  the  musical  profes- 
sion now.  Nothing  seems  left  to  accident  or  conjec- 
ture ;  everything  is  anticipated  and  provided  for. 

*'  A  resident  Professor  of  Music  represents  the 
University,  and  promotes  rather  than  obstructs  the 
operations  of  the  statutes.  Procedure  Is  amply 
marked  out,  and  no  man  worthy  to  enter  into  the 
examinations  Is  left  at  loss  or  in  doubt.  No  nook 
or  cranny  remains  for  lurking  prejudice  or  personal 
animosities.  There  are  the  statutes,  there  the  pro- 
cedure, and  there  the  examination  papers,  read  and 
known  of  all  men  concerned.  The  result  Is  abso- 
lutely determined  by  the  candidate  himself.  If  he 
succeeds  In  ''  flooring  "  his  several  "  papers  "  within 
the  required  conditions,  his  degree  Is  sure.  Indeed, 
it  appears  that  the  conditions  are  quite  as  generous 


Doctor's  Deo^ree  at  Cambrido^e         31 


^x..^ s,      ^^xxx^x.v^^ 


towards  the  candidate  as  they  are  just  to  the  in- 
tegrity of  the  University. 

''  How  differently  circumstances  shaped  them- 
selves in  1825  ! 

*'  The  road  to  the  acquisition  of  the  musical  doc- 
torate had  almost  ceased  to  be  an  open  thorough- 
fare ;  and  only  at  rare  intervals  do  we  find  records 
of  one  who  had  successfully  braved  its  difficulties. 
The  department  of  music  itself,  under  such  adverse 
conditions,  had  fallen  far  below  its  earlier  renown, 
and  the  University,  as  represented  by  its  legislative 
body,  the  Senate,  had  not  only  lost  all  interest  in 
its  operations,  but  had  seriously  considered  the 
question  of  refusing  it  place  or  recognition  among 
the  University  Faculties.  Even  the  proposition  of 
abrogating  the  professorship  was  seriously  con- 
sidered ;  the  professor  had,  as  a  non-resident,  prac- 
tically withdrawn  from  university  life ;  and  we  find 
this  extraordinary  situation  in  the  ancient  Uni- 
versity, that  had  for  many  generations  conferred 
its  doctorate  upon  many  illustrious  ones  among 
Anglican  composers,  that  for  the  time  being  it  was 
without  a  musical  Faculty,  and  more  than  indiffer- 
ent to  the  culture  of  the  divine  art. 

''  It  is  hardly  possible  to  repress  a  smile  as  we  con- 
template the  Professor  while  opening  ^/le  exercise 
sent  up  by  the  young  aspirant.     Having  at  the  out- 


32  Edward  Hodg-es 


^5 


set  laid  down  (or  suggested)  a  four-part  composi- 
tion, while  insisting  on  the  preliminary  Bachelor's 
Degree,  and  afterwards  waiving  it  under  the  com- 
pulsion of  the  situation,  for  an  exercise  in  eight  parts, 
he  opens  his  eyes  upon  a  composition  in  twelve 
parts,  duly  orchestrated,  abounding  in  consummate 
graces  and  contrapuntal  intricacies,  in  wealth  and 
dignity  of  invention,  in  fugue  and  canon,  with 
masterly  treatment  of  three  choirs,  such  as  Purcell 
would  have  admired,  and  even  Handel  might  have 
approved  !  Here  was  a  work,  an  Optcs  indeed,  far 
transcending  the  measure  of  his  own  artistic 
capacity,  while  demonstrating  the  futility  of  his  own 
obstructive  policy.  He  had  assuredly  never  looked 
upon  such  a  masterpiece  before  from  one  seeking 
University  honors  ;  and  we  are  left  to  wonder  at 
the  maturity,  fertility,  and  inspiration  of  a  genius, 
so  modestly  reared  in  the  twilight,  and  reaching 
such  an  exalted  climacteric  without  the  intervention 
of  masters,  or  schools  ;  the  outgrowth  of  his  own 
untiring  industry  and  recondite  study. 

'*  In  comparison  with  this  exercise  for  three  choirs 
in  twelve  parts,  what  superficial  and  even  meretri- 
cious compositions,  before  and  since  that  day,  must 
have  bridged  the  way  to  a  Doctor's  degree,  not  only 
in  Cambridge  but  elsewhere  ! 

*'  It   is  no  longer  Ad  Cantab,  but  In   Cantab. 


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Doctor's  Degree  at  Cambridge         33 


There  is  the  eventful  coaching  journey  along  the 
most  exquisite  highways  and  byways,  every  mile  of 
it  rich  in  ancient  and  mediaeval  historic  legend  and 
association,  and  the  young  neophyte  reaches  the 
city  of  his  pilgrimage. 

'*  His  alacrity  and  courage  are  wonderful.  Noth- 
ing intimidates,  hinders,  or  irritates  him.  He  mar- 
shalls  his  forces,  who  promptly  come  from  Bristol, 
London,  Ely,  etc.  (for  a  consideration  !),  to  see  him 
through.  Chapters  in  his  diary  fairly  crackle  and 
snap  with  brisk  and  crowded  details  that  must  be 
looked  after.  And  In  such  a  whirl  of  unwonted 
toil  and  excitement,  this  delicate,  sensitive,  highly- 
strung  young  man  Is,  day  after  day,  pushing  his 
way  towards  the  approaching  crucial  service  on 
that  Sunday  In  Great  St.  Mary's  and  the  ceremonial 
to  follow  in  the  Senate  House.  He  finds  oppor- 
tunity, through  his  growing  celebrity,  to  give  the 
University  men  and  the  public  a  taste  of  his  quality 
at  the  keyboard  of  more  than  one  college  chapel 
organ,  though  the  local  organists  are  chary  of  any 
perilous  competition.  Then  the  perpetual  demand 
for  heavy  fees,  stipulated  and  provided  for  at  the 
multiplied  stages  of  his  advance  towards  the  Senate 
House  ;  they  spring  up  at  the  most  unlooked-for 
times.  What  a  touch  of  nature  is  this,  when  he 
first  assumes  the  college  cap  and  gown  and  feels  as 
if  he  had  '  always  been  a  gownsman  ! ' 


34  Edward  Hodges 


"  The  evolution  of  order  and  even  an  approxima- 
tion to  an  impressive  delivery  of  his  '  Exercise,' 
seems  something  among  the  impossibilities.  Then 
there  is  dramatic,  almost  tragic,  Interest  In  the  story 
of  his  buffetinor  and  strucrcrllnor  In  the  crowd,  which 
beleaguered  the  doorway  of  St.  Mary's,  and  nearly 
crushed  the  life  out  of  the  slender  composer  before 
he  could  reach  the  organ  !  That  the  Exercise 
*  went  off  well '  after  such  an  ordeal,  is  most 
astonishing  of  all. 

''  It  Is  only  the  sure,  masterful  hand  that  can  pluck 
success  from  the  most  hostile  conjunction  of  cir- 
cumstances, and  that  day  assuredly  the  Intrepid 
young  composer  from  Bristol  had  conquered,  and 
won  his  degree  almost  by  acclamation." 

His  degree  exercise  was  an  anthem,  in  twelve 
parts,  for  three  choirs,  chorus,  orchestra,  and  organ. 
The  words  were  taken  from  the  17th  and  i8th 
verses  of  the  115th  Psalm:  ''The  dead  praise  not 
the  Lord,  neither  any  that  go  down  into  silence. 
But  we  will  bless  the  Lord,  from  this  time  forth 
and  for  evermore.  Praise  the  Lord."  This  anthem 
was  performed  In  the  University  Church  of  St. 
Mary,  Cambridge,  on  Sunday,  the  3rd  July,  1825, 
with  sixty-nine  performers,  before  the  Vice-Chancel- 
lor of  the  University  and  the  college  dons,  and  a 
very    large    congregation    of    undergraduates  and 


Doctor's  Deo^ree  at  Cambrido^e  35 


^...v.      «.w       v^^xxx^xxv^^ 


others  ;  and  on  the  following  Tuesday,  my  Father 
graduated  as  Bachelor  and  Doctor  in  Music,  by 
accumulation,  the  ceremony  taking  place  in  the 
Senate  House,  Cambridge. 

Apropos  of  the  obstacles  put  in  my  Father's  way 
towards  taking  his  degree  In  music,  I  must  quote 
from  the  able  article  or  critique  which  appeared  in 
the  Londo7i  Quarterly  Musical  Magazine  on  his 
"■  Morning  and  Evening  Service  and  Two  Anthems," 
published  by  D'Almaine  &  Co.  in  the  same  year, 
1825. 

The  writer  had  been  speaking  of  music  in  its 
highest  sense,  or  rather  what  he  terms  the  sublime 
in  music,  and  says  : 

*'  When  a  composer  therefore  enters  on  this  distinct 
and  supreme  department  of  his  Art,  he  does  well,  be  his 
talents  what  they  may,  provided  his  motives  are  as  pure 
as  human  motives  can  be.  The  requisites  for  excellence 
in  this  exalted  course  are  indeed  limited  to  the  giftedjfew  ; 
for  how  few  are  great  in  genius,  great  in  science,  great  in 
meditation  ;  but  yet  a  sufficiency  of  science,  with  musical 
feeling,  sincerity  and  piety,  is  no  uncommon  attainment, 
we  hope  ;  and  which  he  that  possesses  need  not  despair 
of  exerting  effectively  on  this  elevated  ground  of  mental 
exertion.  Tliat  the  world  ever  has  duly  appreciated,  or 
ever  will  appreciate  the  highest  objects  of  Music,  let  no 
man  hope  till  knowledge,  experience,  fine  feeling  and 
reflection  become  common  properties.  Superior  minds 
must  be  content  to  disseminate  those  principles  of  im- 
provement in  science  and  in  virtue  that  may  impercep- 


3^  Edward   Hodges 


tibly  carry  on  the  work    of  human  reformation  by  the 
gradual  advance  of  irresistible  accumulation. 

"  When  the  principles  of  Music  become  generally  un- 
derstood, the  art  will  be  properly  estimated,  even  by  the 
many;  and  this  knowledge  is  even  now  working  its  way 
silently,  surely,  and  effectually  amidst  the  frivolities  of 
fashion  and  the  choke-damp  of  professional  competition. 

*'  The  last  mentioned  obstacle  to  struggling  merit  and 
popular  improvement  is  a  case  in  point  of  which  our 
readers  in  general  are  undoubtedly  not  aware,  unless  the 
reports  that  have  reached  us  are  groundless;  for  a  little 
bird  sings,  that  much  opposition  has  been  made  to  grant- 
ing the  composer  of  the  music  before  us  his  Diploma,, 
though  on  what  score  we  are  at  a  loss  to  guess.  Not  on 
the  score  before  us,  we  hope ;  which  in  our  opinion  quali- 
fies the  composer  for  the  Degree  as  much  as  any  exer- 
cise ever  submitted  to  the  Professor  of  Music  at  either  of 
our  Universities. 

"  Truly,  we  see  no  just  cause  or  impediment  why  Dr. 
Hodges  and  Alma  Mater  should  not  be  joined  together,, 
particularly  after  certain  alliances  of  the  kind  we  wot  of, 
alliances  as  outre  as  that  of  the  Doge  of  Venice  to  the 
Adriatic.  '  De  no7t  appare^itibus  et  non  existentibus  eadein 
est  ratio.' 

"  No  such  objections  therefore  occurring  to  us,  we  would 
fain  ask  in  legal  phraseology.     '  If  not,  why  not  ?  * 

"  He  that  is  ambitious  to  ascend  this  high  scale  of  com- 
position must  qualify  himself  for  the  task  by  sufficiently 
studying  the  Cathedral  music  of  our  country,  and  this 
qualification  Dr.  Hodges  possesses,  in  our  humble  opinion, 
as  manifestly  as  any  composer  we  know  of,  dead  or  alive. 

"  In  a  word,  the  publication  before  us,  is  a  satisfactory 
proof  that  the  Doctor  has  done  that  for  which  he  is  fully 
competent,  and  merits  all  the  encouragement  that  such 
labours  ever  deserve,  but  seldom  elicit." 


Doctor's  DcOTee  at  Cambrido^e         z"] 


^xv.v.      ^.       ^c^xxx-^xxv^^ 


From  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Havergal  to  Dr.  Hodges, 
December,  1825  : 

*'  I  know  not  whether  to  sympathize  with  you  or  con- 
gratulate you  upon  the  ill  and  invidious  treatnaent  which 
it  seems  you  are  accustomed  to  meet  with  from  the 
world.  Perhaps  it  is  fit  I  should  do  both.  I  am  sure 
that  I  cordially  feel  for  you,  especially  as  your  statements 
are  novel  to  me.  I  had  heard  but  little  in  a  recent  letter, 
and  that  little  was  manifestly  the  offspring  of  envy. 
Your  answers  to  my  queries  will  suit  my  purpose  excel- 
lently well,  and  enable  me  to  say  exactly  what  I  wish  to 
say.  But  I  must  congratulate  you.  All  this  malice,  and 
envy  and  calumny,  and  everything  like  mean  and  petty 
attempt  to  thwart  you  and  depreciate  you,  only  furnish 
to  every  candid  and  contemplative  mind,  a  pretty  urgent 
proof,  that  your  rivals  (if  I  may  use  that  appellation)  are 
conscious  that  they  have  somewhat  to  fear  from  you. 
Besides,  this  thorny  path  is  the  very  road  in  which 
many  an  individual  has  proceeded  to  eminence.  Did 
not  Handel  himself  meet  with  much  jealousy  and  vexa- 
tion at  his  outstep  in  the  world  ?  I  think  he  did  ;  but  I 
have  not  time  to  refer ;  you  doubtless  know  whether  he 
did  or  not.  I  can  only  say,  Do  ?wt  be  discouraged.  Nil 
desperandiini.  Abide  by  your  motto.  Practically  too, 
mark  and  study  your  other  signet.  Oreimis  prepares  the 
way  for  Cantemus,  or  still  using  ecclesiastical  Latin,  Ex- 
ultemtis.  You  know  as  well  as  I  can  remind  you  the 
exhortation  which  saith  '  Commit  thy  way  unto  the  LORD, 
and  He  shall  bring  it  to  pass.'  *  Casting  all  your  care, 
temporal  as  well  as  spiritual,  on  Him  for  He  careth  for 
you.' 

"  I  do  not  know  Dr.  Crotch  sufficiently  to  communi- 
cate with  him  ;  I  have  spoken  to  him  and  that  is  all.  I 
will  most  readily  do  anything  that  is  within  the  compass 


3?  Edward  Hod^^es 


fe 


of  my  little  power  to  forward  your  views.  I  shall  try 
hard  to  get  your  music  into  use  at  Canterbury.  When 
you  are  Editor  of  the  Musical  Review  I  shall  take  it  in. 
All  I  know  of  the  Royal  Institution  is,  that  Dr.  Crotch 
gave  up  his  good  situation  at  Oxford  for  it." 

On  July  5,  1825,  Mr.  Havergal  wrote  : 

**  Woodcock,  Organist  of  New  College,  Oxon,  died 
very  recently.  In  his  stead  was  elected  a  very  young 
man  named  Bennet.  Merit  only  was  the  ground  of  his 
appointment.  Cross,  Organist  of  St.  John's  College, 
Christ  Church,  and  the  University,  is  also  just  dead.  I 
hear  that  the  Dean  and  Chapter  intend  giving  the  situa- 
tion to  the  most  likely  candidate.  How  glad  should  I 
be  to  see  you  in  a  station  of  such  eminence  and  oppor- 
tunity !    Take  the  hint. 

"W.  H.  H." 

C.  C.  Clarke,  Esq.,  to  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Havergal : 

"The  Doctor's  abilities  certainly  deserve  a  fair  field  for 
their  exercise. 

"  How  his  old  opponent  Cummins  could  think  him 
unworthy  of  a  Degree  surprises  me  ;  for  I  believe  a  cer- 
tain knowledge  of  the  science  qualifies  for  that — does  it 
not  ?  And  tJiat  no  one  can  dispute  the  Doctor  possesses, 
who  knows  anything  at  all  about  the  matter.  His  possess- 
ing the  power  to  create  new  musical  ideas  that  shall  be 
pleasing  to  Mr.  Cummins,  or  to  any  one  else,  is  quite 
another  affair ;  and  in  my  mind  would  in  no  way  aflect 
his  reputation  as  a  man  of  talent — though  it  would  as  a 
man  of  genius. 

"  He  is  no  ordinary  man  in  either  point  of  view. 

"  Believe  me, 

*'  Faithfully  yours, 

"  C.  C.  Clarke, 
'*  Organist  of  Worcester  Cathedral." 


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Doctor's  Degree  at  Cambridge         39 


It  Is  a  source  of  pleasure  to  me  to  recall  and 
revive  these  early  years  of  my  Father's  friendship 
for  Mr.  Havergal.  It  was  as  strong  as  it  was  deep, 
and  a  very  loving  one  ;  it  began  when  they  were 
both  young  men,  my  Father  but  twenty-eight,  and 
Mr.  Havergal  three  years  older,  and  it  lasted  to  the 
end  of  their  lives. 

There  was  something  strongly  akin  in  their  souls  ; 
both  having  devoted  their  lives  to  the  service  of 
the  Church.  The  one  from  the  pulpit  and  desk 
sought  help  from  the  sacred  musician  at  the  organ, 
who  he  knew  had  devoted  every  intellectual  power 
and  the  zeal  of  his  life  to  the  same  sacred  cause. 
This  zeal  did  not  pass  In  spasmodic  effort,  but  con- 
tinued after  my  Father  had  crossed  the  Atlantic. 

From  expressions  In  the  letters  we  see  that  my 
Father  had  much  to  bear  from  the  remarks  of  envi- 
ous or  jealous  minds  ;  and  how  much  harder  would 
it  have  been  but  for  the  strong  help  of  this  true  and 
faithful  friend.  It  was  truly  a  brotherly  love  which 
existed  between  them  ;  and  It  lasted  till  they,  within 
but  a  year  or  two  of  each  other,  entered  Into  that 
larger  life  beyond  our  ken,  where,  even  now,  they 
may  not  be  divided. 

I  record  here  my  own  esteem  for  him  and  his 
loving  wife,  and  my  friendship  for  the  bright  and 
beautiful  sacred  minstrel,  Frances  Ridley  Havergal, 
that  subtle  player  on  invisible  harp-strings  ;  for  his 
other  highly  gifted  daughters,  and  for  my  kind 
friend  the  late  Francis  T.  Havergal,  D.D.,  Preben- 
dary of  Hereford  Cathedral. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


GLIMPSES     OF     MY     FATHER  S     LIFE    AS    SEEN     IN     HIS 

DIARY. 


I 


N  1 82 1,  as  the  year  is  just  closing,  my  Father 
writes  : 


''  May  God  give  va^  faithfulness  to  mj/se/f  while  I  write 
my  Memorabilia,"  (as  the  Moravians  have  it). 

"  Music  is,  must  be,  and  shall  be  my  forte.  Here  will  I 
dwell,  for  I  have  desired  it  :  and  even  in  Eternity  it  shall 
accompany  my  joys  and  heighten  Celestial  bliss.  I  have 
dedicated  it  to  the  service  of  God  :  and  trust  He  will  add 
His  blessing  upon  my  endeavours." 

"  I  beseech  Him,  notwithstanding  Mr.  Biddulph's 
anathema  on  '  Intellectual  Attainments,'  to  grant  me  a 
capacious  intellect,  and  opportunity  for  constant  progres- 
sion in  improvement ;  that  I  may  grow  in  grace  and  in 
the  knowledge  (He  knows  all  things)  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  to  Whom  be  glory  for  ever.     Amen." 

Diary  Extract. 

"  yu/y  2y,  1S2J. 

"  Resolving  not  to  waste  more  time,  I  commenced  a 
series  of  notes  for  Lectures  or  Essays  on  Music. 

'^  I  fear  my  knowledge  of  the  subject  is  very  confined, 
but  by  a  little  labour  perhaps  I  can  brush  up  more. 

40 


Glimpses  of  My  Father's  Life  41 


'^  I  apprehend  the  Theory  of  Sound  itself,  the  basis  of 
Music,  is  as  yet  very  imperfect.  At  all  events,  be  I 
where  I  may,  I  must  do  something.  I  think  of  cutting 
out  my  time  into  portions  and  devoting  it  to  various 
studies.  Among  them,  I  must  revive  my  lost  Latin.  I 
ought  to  get  acquainted  with  Greek  ;  German  and  Italian 
are  indispensable,  as  is  also  a  knowledge  of  some  branches 
of  Mathematics.  These  things,  coupled  with  the  constant 
practice  and  composition  of  music,  will  find  me  plenty  of 
employment." 

''Aug.  75-,  182s. 

"  Zinc  Organ  Pipes. 

''  I  went  with  Charles  Murray,  Esq.,  to  the  manufac- 
tory of  Patent  Zinc,  and  took  Smith,  the  Organ  builder, 
with  me.  The  object  of  my  visit  was  to  see  whether  that 
metal  might  not  be  made  available  in  the  construction  of 
Organ  pipes.  I  have  hopes  of  it.  IV/ien  warmed  it  is 
easily  bended  to  any  shape,  and,  on  cooling,  fixes  quite 
hard.  It  seems  remarkably  firm  in  its  texture,  and  to 
have  a  sonorous  quality.  As  left  by  the  rolling  mills  too, 
its  surface  is  remarkably  smooth,  a  circumstance  which  I 
think  of  great  importance  for  the  interior  of  a  pipe.  They 
promised  me  to  send  a  sheet  of  the  metal  to  Smith's  shop 
to  try  the  experiment." 

"  Aug.  16,  182^. 

"  Mathematics. 

"  This  morning  before  breakfast  I  professedly  took  my 
first  lesson  in  mathematics.  For  this  purpose  Mr.  T.  S. 
Davies  attended.  It  was  rather  a  conversation  than  a 
lesson.  Davies  seemed  to  be  a  shrewd  man  and  to  have 
the  'root'  (query  Square  root?)  of  the  matter  in  him. 
I  am  afraid  my  advances  will  be  but  slow.     Sometimes  I 


42  Edward  Hodges 


fancy  that  my  power  of  apprehension  or  comprehension 
is  not  so  quick  as  it  once  was.  At  other  times  I  lose  by  its 
rapidity.  I  understand  a  point  perfectly  and  so  pass  on 
before  it  has  time  to  fix  itself  in  my  memory.  The  next 
day  I  have  to  refer  to  my  first  principle  again.  Davies 
tells  me  that  in  order  to  cure  myself  of  this  propensity, 
I  must  work  several  of  the  problems." 

"  Davies  breakfasted  with  us.  I  lent  him  old  Bishop 
Wilkins'  Philosophical  and  Mathematical  works.  In  town 
I  fell  in  with  Jackson  the  Artist.  I  met  George  Wash- 
bourne,  Master  of  St.  Peter's  Hospital,  and  he  accom- 
panied me  to  Smith's  shop  to  enquire  about  the  Zinc  pipe 
manufactory.  Smith  promised  to  make  the  experiment 
next  week.  We  all  then  went  to  St.  Thomas's  Church, 
where  Smith  has  been  putting  in  two  Copula  movements, 
and  otherwise  repairing  the  organ.  I  must  again  declare 
I  do  not  like  the  intrument.  Although  the  tones  are 
good  and  the  Church  favourable  to  musical  effect,  the  de- 
ficiency in  the  Bass  of  the  instrument  more  than  counter- 
balances these  advantages.  Its  having  what  is  technically 
called  '  short  octaves,'  cripples  all  power  of  modulation. 
The  organ  has  no  effect  out  of  one  or  two  keys. 

"  I  played  there  for  an  hour,  nearly,  and  then  made 
haste  home." 

"7  March,  1826. 

"  It  appears  that  my  mind  is  now  going  to  take  a  new 
turn,  as  I  feel  a  composing  fit  coming  on. 

"  Would  that  the  strength  of  my  body  were  but  equal 
to  the  energy  of  my  mind,  methinks  I  would  work  won- 
ders ;  but  alas  !  it  is  not,  and  I  must  be  content  to  waste 
my  time  in  large  masses,  lest  my  sublunary  existence 
should  be  the  sacrifice  of  application.  This  is  doleful ; 
but  many  are  in  far  worse  plight  than  I  am,  both  men- 
tally and  bodily,  therefore  I  have  good  reason  to  be 
thankful. 


Glimpses  of  My  Father's  Life  43 

"  As  I  have  not  strength  for  incessant  exertion  of  any 
sort,  I  n:iust  let  the  plodders  fag  through  the  laborious 
processes  of  art  and  science,  and  do  as  well  as  I  can  by 
fits  and  starts  with  the  means  and  opportunities  God  has 
given  me. 

"  The  occasion  of  the  approaching  change  of  pursuit 
seems  to  be  the  receipt  to-day  of  No.  28  of  the  Quarterly 
Review^  wherein  there  is  a  most  flattering  and  encouraging 
critique  upon  my  Opera  prima.  This  doubtless  is  the  im- 
mediate cause,  though  the  remote  one  be  my  usual  fickle- 
ness of  disposition,  which  never  allows  me  to  stick  long  to 
any  one  pursuit.  Some  condemn  this  ;  others  think  it 
good.  My  own  opinion  is,  that  nature,  when  she  strongly 
leans  in  any  direction,  is  our  best  guide. 

"  Some  men  are  pre-disposed  for  intense  and  long  con- 
tinued application  to  one  object.  Let  them  fag  on.  It 
is  their  bounden  duty  so  to  do.  Others  cannot  apply 
themselves  at  all.  This  is  a  woeful  extreme.  They  must 
continue  blockheads. 

"  The  class  to  which  I  belong  is  that  which  delights  to 
follow  an  object  con  fiirio  for  a  time,  then  to  rest  the 
faculties  by  a  change  to  a  different  pursuit,  calling  other 
powers  into  exercise,  and  then  to  return  to  the  former  with 
increased  zest  and  delight. 

**  So  with  me,  Music  is  my  leading  or  principal  study  ; 
and  this  contains  an  amusing  variety  in  itself;  in  practice, 
the  mode  of  performance  on  various  instruments,  and  the 
act  of  composition  ;  in  theory,  the  nature  and  variety  and 
laws  of  Sound. 

"  But  even  this  is  not  for  me  a  sufficient  range.  Other 
objects  occasionally  present  themselves,  and  I  follow  them 
with  avidity,  only  to  return  to  the  master  theme. 

''  After  reading  the  news  at  the  Philosophical  Institu- 
tion, I  applied  myself  to  the  perusal  of  the  article  on 
Acotistics,   in  the    Encyclopaedia   Britannica.     It  did  not 


44  Edward  Hod^^es 


^3 


please  me,  seeing  it  produces  no  other  proof  of  the  nature 
of  sound  than  the  old  experiment  of  a  bell  yielding  none 
in  an  exhausted  receiver,  which,  it  says,  demonstrates  that 
it  is  a  pulsation. 

"  I  see  that  some  vague  notion  of  the  connection  of 
sound  with  Electricity  has  been  started,  but  not  carried 
out  to  constitute  anything  like  a  plausible  hypothesis. 

"  I  heard  my  son  Handel  read  a  little.  He  improves, 
(aet.  4.)  " 

' '  January  2j,  1826. 

**  What  is  the  reason  why  good  taste  is  to  be  so  rarely 
found  in  connection  with  what  is  called  evangelical  reli- 
gion ?  Evangelical,  surely  it  is  not.  It  were  blasphemy 
to  affirm  that  God  would  disapprove  of  Music,  Poetry, 
Painting  or  Sculpture,  when  pursued  with  a  view  to  His 
praise  and  glory.  It  were  blasphemy  to  afifirm  that  such 
a  Being  could  be  properly  worshipped  through  the  me- 
dium of  the  nonsense  found  in  many  of  the  hymns.  But 
hold!  perhaps,  I  judge  rashly.  If  a  man  offer  to  his 
Maker  that  which  he  esteems  to  be  the  best  of  its  kind, 
it  will  be  accepted. 

"  Unanimity,  perhaps,  never  will  be  attained,  more 
especially  in  matters  of  taste.  But  seriously,  1  contem- 
plate the  propriety  of  my  renunciation  of  the  office  of 
organist.  It  continually  involves  me  in  squabbles  with 
some  party  or  other.  Where  so  many  are  concerned,  all 
can  never  be  satisfied,  and  the  devil  gets  the  vantage 
ground,  to  raise  disturbance;  for  those  who  are  contented 
with  existing  arrangements  say  nothing,  and  thus  the 
voices  of  a  few,  frequently  repeated,  pass  for  the  voices 
of  the  majority." 

"  January  ^o,  1826. 

"  In  Park  St.  I  was  apprehended  by  two  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  the  Philosophical  Institution  who  insisted  upon 


Glimpses  of  My  Father's  Life         45 


the  expediency  and  propriety  of  my  giving  a  lecture  or 
course  of  lectures  upon  Music  there. 

"  In  the  evening,  I  began  a  second  time  arranging  my 
ideas  for  a  series  of  lectures  on  Sound  and  Music. 

"  I  find  much  difficulty  in  making  them  fall  into  any 
sort  of  order,  the  subjects  branch  out  into  so  many  differ- 
ent ways. 

^'  Thus  Music  may  be  considered  either  as  Melody  or 
Harmony,  or  both  united  ;  either  as  plain  or  florid,  as 
secular  or  sacred,  as  public  or  chamber,  as  national  or 
universal,  as  vocal  or  instrumental,  as  natural  or  artificial ; 
neither  is  it  possible  to  reduce  these  to  a  regular  connected 
order.        , 

"  For  exercise  I  have  recently  thought  of  adopting  a 
new  idea,  which  is,  to  procure  a  good  log  of  oak,  and  set 
to  work  at  intervals  to  carve  out  of  it  a  chair. 

''Such  an  undertaking  would  serve  to  amuse  me  per- 
haps for  years,  and  when  complete  might  be  handed 
down  to  my  posterity  as  the  work  of  their  ancestor  *  the 
Doctor ! ' 

"  When  I  reflect  on  the  numerous  projects,  which  my 
poor  imagination  has  given  rise  to  and  my  utter  inade- 
quacy to  fulfil  or  execute  them,  I  have  a  distinct  and 
useful  feeling  of  the  vanity  of  earthly  hopes  and  expec- 
tations. 

*'  Nevertheless  I  will  go  on  whilst  my  strength  shall 
last,  and  though  I  live  not  to  accomplish  my  projects, 
my  hints  may  be  of  use  to  others,  when   I   shall  be  no 


more  seen." 


''May6.  1826. 

"  In  reading  Locke  yesterday  upon  identity  and  diver- 
sity, a  sudden  thought  came  into  my  head  of  writing  a 
work  upon  my  idea  of  the  possible  occupation  of  separate 
spirits. 


4^  Edward  Hodges 


"  I  wish  to  infuse  into  the  minds  of  the  populace  a 
more  merry  notion  of  Celestial  happiness  than  the  par- 
sons allow  them  to  entertain. 

*'  I  also  thought  of  making  the  work  a  vehicle  for  some 
of  my  more  extravagant  thoughts  upon  Music ;  e.  g.  the 
infinite  divisibility  of  musical  intervals,  and  the  boundless 
extent  of  the  scale,  the  unlimited  number  of  primes,  and 
the  celestial  possibility  of  millions  of  real  parts.  Much 
of  my  work  was  to  have  been  filled  with  conversations 
upon  these  subjects,  between  such  men  as  Tubal-Cain 
and  Handel. 

"  Then  I  had  the  wild  thought  of  introducing  the  doc- 
trine of  Transmigration  of  souls,  in  such  a  manner  as  not 
to  contradict  any  doctrine  of  Revelation,  and  to  make 
adventures  of  this  sort  the  source  of  much  amusing  dia- 
logue above.     So  much  for  a  passing  thought. 

"  I  read  a  goodly  portion  of  Locke  to-day,  and  con- 
tinued at  intervals  to  complete  the  accompaniments  of 
my  Duett,  '  The  God  of  Heaven  shall  set  up  a  Kingdom.' 
The  composition  is  not  despicable,  but  it  falls  far  short 
of  my  expectation." 

"  I  begin,  I  perceive,  to  entertain  a  somewhat  different 
notion  of  the  cause  of  my  last  week's  uneasiness  to  that 
which  has  for  so  many  days  made  me  miserable. 

''  I  see  in  it  now  the  chastising  hand  of  a  merciful 
Father.  I  was  beginning  to  be  puffed  up.  Church 
Music  had  been  my  study  ;  perhaps  I  was  resting  on  it. 
I  had  operated  some  small  degree  of  improvement,  and 
was  almost  in  the  daily  receipt  of  adulatory  congratula- 
tions on  my  success.  I  did  not  give  God  the  glory  as 
was  His  due.  Let  me  never  henceforth  engage  in  any 
Divine  Service  without  lifting  up  my  heart  to  God  for 
His  gracious  blessing  on  my  humble  efforts.  I  will  work 
yet  more  in  dependance  upon  Him,  Whose  I  am,  and 
Whom  I  desire  to  serve.     I  will  continually  implore  His 


Glimpses  of  My  Father's  Life         47 


guidance,  as  well  for  the  government  of  myself  as  for  the 
management  of  my  unruly  fingers. 

"  I  will  yet  more  than  ever  despise  that  bubble  reputa- 
tion;  and  seek  only  to  gain  the  approbation  of  a  con- 
science void  of  offence.  Come  what  may  I  shall  be 
armed.  Anonymous  scribblers  may  wear  their  pens  out, 
and  exhaust  their  inkstands  ;  I  will  by  Divine  help  keep 
on  the  even  tenor  of  my  way. 

"  Yet  a  little  while,  and  all  will  be  over.  All  these  dis- 
cords of  suspension  will  be  resolved.  There  will  be  no 
squabbling  about  loudness  or  softness,  intricacy  or  sim- 
plicity, variety  or  uniformity. 

"  All  will  be  order.     All  will  be  peace." 

One  great  individuality  of  my  Father's  mind, 
equally  rare  and  valuable,  is  distinctly  brought  out 
in  this  thought  of  ''  Celestial  Dialogues." 

I  refer  to  the  union  of  technical  knowledge — the 
machinery  of  parts  as  It  were — with  an  almost 
boundless  imagination.  In  most  minds  these  are 
separare  gifts.  A  merely  religious  mind  would 
here  have  freely  described  what  it  believed  would 
be  a  natural  gratification  of  Its  highest  faculties  ; 
the  soul  would  be  filled  with  adoration,  and  occu- 
pied In  music,  embodying  probably  no  higher  idea 
of  the  latter  than  most  people  are  able  to  form  of 
it  In  tJiis  world. 

But  we  see  how  the  Scientific  Musician  comes  in, 
with  his  expanded,  God-given  Intellect,  bringing  a 
treasure  of  thouorht  to  those  able  to  follow  him.     It 


48  Edward   Hodges 


is  almost  impossible  for  us  to  realize  what  he  means 
— bound  as  we  are  by  accepted  and  contracted  no- 
tions of  music  (as  well  as  of  everything  else  !) — by 
'*  the  infinite  divisibility  of  the  usual  intervals,  the 
boundless  extent  of  the  scale,  the  unlimited  number 
of  primes,  the  celestial  possibilities  of  millions  of 
real  parts." 

To  think  of  all  this  seems  impossible  to  tts  ;  and 
w^hat  a  glimpse  it  gives  us  of  the  scientific  and  re- 
ligious workings  of  his  own  mind  !  How  unique, 
too,  his  choice  of  Tubal-Cain  and  Handel  as  hold- 
inof  a  conversation  !  It  seems  as  though  he  were 
still  uniting  in  imagination  two  great  representa- 
tives, thrown  apart  by  ages  :  one,  the  great  worker 
in  metals,  and  the  other  the  musician  who  has  given 
us  in  music  the  sublimest  religious  thought  the 
world  has  ever  received. 

His  use  of  the  word  ''merry,"  too,  in  connection 
with  the  future  occupation,  is  significant.  Perhaps 
he  was  driven  to  it  by  the  narrow  and  contracted 
theological  teaching  of  his  day,  at  which  he  fre- 
quently revolted. 

Intellectual  life  and  sublime  thought  were  to  him 
inconsistent  with  lugubrious,  dismal,  pietistic  re- 
ligion. 

From  the  Diary. 

"  October  i,  i82g. 

**  I  proceeded  with  my  brother  Archelaus  to  Redcliff 
Church,  where  we  witnessed  the  really  astounding  per- 


Glimpses  of  My  Father's  Life         49 


formance  of  Samuel  Wesley  upon  the  noble  organ  there- 
in. It  was  the  most  wonderful  I  ever  heard,  more  even 
than  I  had  before  been  capable  of  conceiving  ;  the  flow 
of  melody,  the  stream  of  harmony,  was  so  complete,  so 
unbroken,  so  easy,  and  yet  so  highly  wrought  and  so 
superbly  scientific,  that  I  was  altogether  knocked  off  my 
stilts.  Before  such  a  man  and  organist  I  am  less  than 
nothing  and  vanity.  A  Duett  was  performed  by  him 
and  his  son,  Samuel  Sebastian  Wesley.  The  Concluding 
Fugue  was  sublime.  A  few  Choruses  and  Songs  were 
interspersed  but  I  wished  them  away.  Samuel,  Edward, 
and  George  D.  Fripp,  besides  a  host  of  professional 
Organists  were  present,  and  were  doubtless  carried  into 
the  third  Heaven.  I  exchanged  a  few  words  with  the  old 
man  and  his  son  on  the  performance  being  over.  I  walked 
home  afterwards,  but  my  head  was  full  of  naught  but 
Samuel  Wesley  and  his  seraphic  genius.  I  wrote  a  para- 
graph for  the  Mirror,  laudatory  of  Mr.  S.  W.  No  words 
can  sound  his  praises  too  highly.  He  is  the  Prince  of 
Musicians  and  Emperor  of  Organists." 

"  October  4th. 

"  I  performed  two  or  three  movements  out  of  Sebastian 
Bach  on  my  Piano,  but  was  completely  out  of  humour 
with  my  musicality.  Why,  however,  should  I  repine  ?  Is 
it  not  as  much  a  man's  duty  to  be  content  with  such  in- 
tellectual powers  as  God  may  be  pleased  to  impart  to 
him,  as  it  is  to  be  satisfied  with  his  rank  and  station  in 
life  ?  God  has  made  one  man  a  Wesley,  another  a  Hodges  ; 
I  pray  for  a  grateful  heart  and  humble  spirit.  Who  knows 
whether  Wesley's  visit  to  Bristol  be  not  ordered  by  divine 
goodness  to  detach  me  from  the  world,  and  to  make  me 
see  that  '  all  is  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit  ?  ' 

"  I  thought  myself  something  in  fmisic  at  least,  but  even 
that  is  taken  from  me. 


50  Edward  Hodges 


"  Yet  I  will  endeavour  to  *  play  before  the  Lord,  and  if 
I  have  not  the  skill  of  an  Arch-Angel,  He  will  graciously 
accept  my  more  humble  offering,  and  I  will  wait  His  good 
pleasure  to  be  enabled  to  praise  Him  in  loftier  strains 
above. 

*'  I  got  through  my  duties  somehow  (I  will  not  say  I 
played  the  organ)  at  St.  Nicholas'  in  the  morning  and  at 
St.  James'  in  the  afternoon  and  evening." 

"  At  one  o'clock  I  hastened  to  Redcliff  Church  to  wit- 
ness Sam.  Wesley's  astonishing  powers  once  more.  I  was 
of  course  delighted,  but  was  not  completely  carried  away 
as  I  was  on  the  former  occasion.  The  sinning  sinners,  or 
singing  singers  came  around  me  and  accused  me  of  being 
the  author  of  a  paragraph  in  the  papers,  which  spoke 
slightingly  of  them.     I  did  not  satisfy  them." 

They  would  have  been  less  satisfied  had  they 
been  aware  that  the  solemn  young  man  who  spoke 
to  them  so  courteously  had  in  an  "  aside  "  called 
them  a  motley  group  of  bawlers  and  a  sorry  set  of 
scrubs.     The  bills  said  an  ''  effective  choir." 

"  October  yth. 

"  I  spent  a  very  rattletrappish  sort  of  morning,  and 
between  twelve  and  one  set  forth  in  Wilkin's  fly  to 
witness  Mr.  Wesley's  third  and  last  performance  on  the 
organ. 

''  In  this  instance  I  did  not  experience  so  much  gratifi- 
cation as  upon  either  of  the  former  occasions  ;  but  cannot 
be  sure  whether  this  arose  from  a  sense  of  satiety  in  my- 
self or  a  perception  of  a  falling  off  (comparatively  with 
the  preceding  exhibitions)  in  him. 


Glimpses  of  My  Father's  Life         51 


"  In  an  article  published  in  the  Bristol  Mirror,  Oct.  4, 
I  expressed  the  high  sense  which  I,  at  the  first  perform- 
ance, entertained  of  Mr.  Wesley's  superlative  merits. 
Although  somewhat  bombastic  and  stiltified,  it  was  the 
genuine  production  of  the  impressions  made  upon  my 
mind  and   fancy." 

I  quote  from  the  article  : 

"  Mr.  Wesley's  performance  upon  the  organ  at  Redcliff 
Church  was  of  such  a  nature  as  to  baffle  all  powers  of 
description.  His  splendid  extemporaneous  effusions  left 
his  hearers  perfectly  astounded.  Such  concatenations  of 
splendid  harmonies  passed  through  the  noble  vaultings 
of  that  venerable  pile,  as  can  alone  be  produced  by  the 
highest  efforts  of  genius,  inspired  by  Divine  enthusiasm, 
in  man  or  angel.  The  effect  was  literally  superhuman. 
Seldom  indeed  does  it  fall  to  mortal  lot  to  witness  such  a 
sublime  exhibition  of  seraphic  skill.  In  a  duett  by  Mr. 
Wesley  and  his  son  the  climax  of  the  concluding  Fugue 
was  grand  beyond  conception  ;  the  imagination  of  the 
hearers  was  necessarily  over-whelmed  with  ideas  of 
immensity  and  infinity,  and  the  stupendous  powers  of  the 
magnificent  instrument  upon  which  the  father  and  son 
were  exerting,  but  evidently  not  exhausting,  their  talents 
were  absorbed  and  totally  forgotten  in  the  melodious 
torrent,  which  seemed  as  it  were  to  sweep  *  all  Heaven's 
harmonies  before  it.'  On  such  an  occasion  praise  and 
*  puff  '  are  alike  futile  and  superfluous." 

His  Diary  proceeds  : 

*'  Now  that  I  have  heard  the  great  man  two  or  three 
times,  I  can  begin  to  analyse,  not  only  my  own  sensations, 
but  the  means  by  which  he  contrives  to  excite  them  and 
it  may  be  well  to  record  an  observation  or  two  on  the 
subject. 


52  Edward  Hodges 


"  Wonder  never  can  be  permanent. 

"  I  was  at  first  taken  by  surprise  by  Wesley's  exceed- 
ingly full  harmonies,  many  of  which  seemed  to  be 
incomprehensible  ;  by  the  march  of  his  modulations,  which 
seemed  almost  incapable  of  detection ;  by  the  incessant 
flow  of  apparently  new  melodies,  which  seemed  to  emanate 
from  an  exhaustless  source ;  and  by  the  delicate  rapidity 
and  precision  of  his  complex  execution,  which  seemed  to 
defy  human  rivalry. 

"  But  these  points  successively  either  vanished 
altogether,  or  were  lowered  somewhat  nearer  to  the 
ordinary  range  of  mortal  ability,  on  every  successive 
hearing;  towards  the  end,  indeed,  in  almost  every  suc- 
ceeding piece  performed.  The  full  harmonies  all  resolved 
themselves  into  the  classes  into  which  I  am  distributing 
them  in  my  '  Tentamen,'  ^  viz.  either  Diatonic  or  Chro- 
matic Mixtures,  and  had  been  rendered  at  first 
inappreciable  by  me,  because  I  was  not  sufficiently 
accustomed  to  the  precise  pitch  of  that  particular  organ^ 
to  determine  what  were  the  notes  actually  sounding. 
Thus  my  imagination  wandered  through  a  host  of  keys 
without  attaching  a  definite  notational  idea  to  any  one  of 
them. 

"  Now,  much  of  this  was  gone  on  the  second  perfor- 
mance taking  place,  and  all  was  removed  long  before 
the  third  was  over,  still  his  harmonies  were  fine  and 
masterly. 

"  Again,  from  a  similar  cause,  his  bold  modulations 
were  at  first  astounding,  because  mysterious ;  but  they 
anon  became  familiar,  though  used  with  unwonted  skill. 
Still  it  might  not  have  been  the  skill  of  a  genius  of  the 
third  Heaven. 

"  The  flow  of  melody  is  also  a  point  in  which  Wesley 
did  not   maintain  his  first  impressions;  for  many  of  the 

'  An  exhaustive  work  on  Thorough  Bass. 


Glimpses  of  My  Father's  Life         53 


passages  occurred  over  and  over  again.  Yet  was  there 
enough  of  novelty  on  each  occasion  to  entitle  him  to  the 
praise  of  lofty  imagination.  And  lastly  his  execution, 
which  perhaps  was  the  best  (or  at  least  second  best) 
point  of  his  performance,  seemed  on  further  investigation 
to  be  perfectly  attainable  by  a  little  regular  practice, 
combined  with  the  attainment  of  a  sound  knowledge  of 
Harmony.  Thus,  bit  by  bit,  it  would  appear  as  though 
all  his  merit  was  to  be  frittered  down  to  the  ordinary  level 
of  humanity.  Not  so,  however,  or  more  than  one 
Samuel  Wesley  would  be  discoverable  in  the  world.  He 
must  be  ranked  as  a  man  of  superlative  talent  and  first- 
rate  genius. 

"  But  notwithstanding  all  this,  I  shall  come  to  a  little 
closer  criticism  yet.  His  grand  forte  is  confessedly 
extempore  fugue.  The  subjects  are  generally  bold  and 
striking,  the  opening  clear  and  well  compacted  together 
secundjun  artem,  the  organ-points  towards  the  end  skil- 
fully introduced,  and  w^orked  up  with  the  most  scientific 
harmonies,  and  the  concluding  cadences  characteristic  and 
effective. 

"  But  lo !  the  subjects  themselves  seemed  to  be  but 
illegitimate  offsprings  of  Sebastian  Bach,  (Sam.  Wesley's 
idol,)  and  the  opening  of  each  fugue  has  doubtless  been 
well  studied." 

"  Samuel  Wesley,  the  Prince  of  Organists,"  was 
the  toast  given  by  my  Father  at  a  dinner-party, 
October  12  1829,  in  Bristol,  on  the  occasion  of 
his  meeting  Dr.  Wesley,  whom  he  does  not  hesitate 
to  call,  ''  The  first  organist  in  the  world."  Around 
were  seated  many  of  the  choicest  spirits  of  Bristol, 
and  when  my  Father  rose  and  proposed  the  toast,  it 


54  Edward  Hod^res 


iD 


was  received  and  drunk  with  enthusiasm.  He 
writes :  ''Mr.  Wesley  was  visibly  effected.  It 
gladdened  the  heart  of  the  old  man,"  who  was, 
my  Father  knew,  at  that  time  in  trouble. 

"  Cloisters,    October  28,   i82g. 

"  Between  eight  and  nine  Wesley  came  to  breakfast  and 
both  before  and  after  that  meal,  I  amused  him  by  show- 
ing him  some  of  my  Musical  Conundrums.  He  flattered 
and  encouraged  me.  He  begged  me  to  go  on  with  my 
Anthem  for  the  King ;  and  added  that  it  was,  as  far  as 
done,  really  good ;  and  added,  morever  that  Attwood 
never  could  have  written  such  a  chorus  as  that  beginning, 
'  Thou  O  King,  art  a  King  of  Kings.'  He  commended 
my  style  for  strength." 


CHAPTER   V. 


MORE  DIARY  EXTRACTS. 


THE  year  1834  was  a  time  of  domestic  sorrow. 
The  long-continued  illness  of  my  Mother 
incapacitated  my  Father  for  any  heavy  or  continu- 
ous mental  work,  and  his  energies  went  out  in  dili- 
gent, unselfish  actions,  visiting  and  caring  for  his 
aged  and  sick  relatives,  and  bringing  comfort  to 
many  others  in  their  sickness  and  sorrow, — and  in 
quiet  reading  and  study  at  home. 

My  dear  Mother  died  on  the  Feast  of  St.  Michael 
and  All  Angels,  1835,  at  the  age  of  thirty-five,  be- 
lieving surely  that  she  would  meet  us  again,  and 
knowing  Him  faithful  in  Whom  she  trusted. 

I  quote  again  from  the  diary  : 

"5/.  yames'  Church,  Dec,  2^,  ^8^4. 

"  During  the  morning  service  I  felt  at  a  loss  for  an 
appropriate  L.  M.  Tune,  and  composed  one,  principally 
whilst  the  Nicene  Creed  was  being  read  (the  idea  did  not 
occur  to  me  to  write  one  at  all  until  the  minister  began 
the  Gospel  for  the  day)  of  which  I  had  time  only  to  set 
down  hastily  the  Bass. 

"  I  made  for  Handel  a  rough  copy  in  pencil  whilst  the 

55 


56  Edward  Hodges 


Clerk  was  giving  out  the  first  verse,  which  I  completed  as 
he  gave  out  the  second,  and  the  little  fellow  sang  it  at 
sight  bravely.  Such  an  occurrence  as  this  does  not  happen 
every  day,  and  therefore,  although  a  trifle,  it  deserves  to 
be  recorded." 

' '  Sunday ^  December  6,  i8jj. 

"  Before  I  left  home  after  dinner  I  made  the  children 
sing  a  few  notes  for  Thomas  Cook  to  hear  them.  On  this 
occasion  Miriam  exhibited  a  truly  astonishing  compass  of 
voice,  viz.,  four  Octaves  !  from  F,  the  bass  clef  note,  to  F 
in  altissimo.  Sebastian's  was  very  nearly  the  same,  but 
he  could  not  reach  either  of  the  extremes  so  well  as  his 
sister. 

"  Both  Faustina's  and  Jubal's  voices  are  of  shorter 
compass." 

''  Perhaps  it  is  a  good  thought  that  I  cannot  better 
employ  a  portion  of  the  little  property  which  has  recently 
fallen  to  me  than  by  endeavouring  to  increase  my  profes- 
sional reputation,  which  if  it  may  not  ultimately  benefit 
fne^  may  have  a  reflective  and  beneficial  effect  upon  the 
prospects  of  my  children. 

'*  I  will  think  about  it,  and  probably  consult  my  friend 
Havergal. 

"  I  have  several  ponderous  Anthems  which  I  should 
like  to  bring  out  ;  but  will  people  condescend  to  purchase 
them  ?     There  's  the  rub." 

A  reflective  effect  upon  the  prospects  of  my  chil- 
dren I  True  in  his  grand  unselfishness,  his  humility, 
and  his  prophetic  spirit ! 

Regarding  myself,  where  In  the  world  could  a 
duty  have  been  more  plainly  Indicated  than  mine  ? 
And  in  the  discharge  of  it,  little  as  I  have  been 


More  Diary  Extracts  57 


able  to  do,  I  have  had  a  happiness  in  sending  one 
gleam — one  *'  reflected "  gleam  of  my  own  pros- 
perity and  success  back  to  their  generous  and 
undoubted  source. 

To  return  to  the  Diary  : 

''  In  the  evening  I  brought  up  this  account  and  turned 
over  a  few  pages  of  music.  Thus  passed  a  comparatively 
unprofitable  close  of  a  (shall  I  say  ?)  misspent  day.  No. 
No  day  is  altogether  misspent,  in  which  a  frail  mortal  has 
been  made  more  sensible  than  before  of  his  frailty. 

"  And  yet,  with  this  increased  consciousness  of  frailty, 
I  found  myself  frail  still —  " 

One  of  my  Father's  strongest  characteristics  was 
his  love  and  reverence  for  his  Father. 

In  the  sketch  of  his  own  life  (in  his  Grandfather's 
Bible),  after  noting  his  own  baptism,  he  has  written  : 

"The  register  thereof  will  be  found  in  the  Bristol 
Tabernacle  (for  his  Father  was  a  Dissenter,  albeit  a  good 
man  nevertheless)." 

All  who  remember  my  Father  would  here  trace 
his  vein  of  natural  humour. 

In  his  Journals  he  marks  the  **  Translation  "  of 
his  saintly  departed  by  a  crown  and  initials. 

''Nov.  6,  J 834. 

"  The  Anniversary  of  my  good  Father's  translation. 
May  I  be  enabled  to  follow  him  as  far  as  he  followed 
Christ,  and  by  God's  good  grace,  with  him  to  inherit  the 
promises. 


58  Edward  Hodges 


^ 


"  Three  and  twenty  years  of  labour  and  sorrow  have 
elapsed  since  his  decease,  but  they  have  been  also  three 
and  twenty  years  of  mercy  and  loving-kindness. 

"  I  have  seen  a  little  during  that  period,  and  endeavoured 
to  observe  what  I  saw  ;  but  behold  !  *  All  was  vanity  and 
vexation  of  spirit  ! ' 

''The  course  of  the  world  is  in  itself,  and  abstracted 
from  all  proofs  else  derived,  a  sufficient  indication  that 
this  state  of  being  is  not  the  ultimate  condition  of  an  im- 
mortal being.  I  express  myself  badly.  Here  good  and 
evil  are  mixed  without  any  apparent  reference  to  moral 
attributes  in  the  man,  as  they  would  assuredly  be  in  a  state 
of  probation. 

"  Hence  this  state  is  not  final." 

"  Aug.  7,  183s. 
"  Faustina's  birthday. 

"  The  Lord  preserve  her  and  keep  her  alive  that  she 
may  be  blessed  upon  earth." 

Was  it  not  answered  to  the  full  ? — F.  H.  H. 

"  yan.ji,  1836. 

"  Thou  who  wast  tempted  in  all  points  (Oh  !  the  unspeak- 
able comfort  of  such  a  passage  !)  like  as  we  are,  '  yet  with- 
out sin'     Amen,  and  Amen. 

"  No.     Temptation  is  not  sin.     I  thank  God  for  that. 

''  '  Blessed  is  the  man  that  endureth  temptation,  for 
when  he  is  tried  he  shall  receive  the  crown  of  life  which 
the  Lord  hath  promised  to  them  that  love  Him.'  " 

My  Father  as  a  general  rule  summarised  his 
works  and  progress  at  the  end  of  every  month, 
often  passing  upon  himself  the  most  severe  and 
searching  criticism  and  judgment. 


More  Diary  Extracts  59 


The  life  that  we  saw  needed  not  this  Indeed, 
these  words  in  the  form  of  a  prayer,  occurring 
amongst  his  serious  thoughts  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
seven  : 

"  Enable  me  so  to  act  that  I  bring  no  descredit  upon 
myself  or  the  Profession  of  Godliness." 

Diary. 

"■Feb.  2^,  iSj6. 
"  Mr.  Bunt  wished  me  to  undertake  a  Secretaryship  to 
one  of  the  Sections  of  the  British  Association  (to  meet  in 
Bristol  next  summer,)  but  I  declined  it." 

"  Cloisters,  Aug.   i,   i8j6. 

"  T.  G.  Bunt  came  in  after  dinner,  and  told  me  that  my 
name  had  been  proposed  as  a  member  of  the  British  As- 
sociation, I  being  a  scientific  individual,  entitled  to  ad- 
mission without  further  payment  than  the  customary 
small  annual  subscription  ;  and  that  it  had  been  unani- 
mously agreed  to  ;  some  gentlemen  having  volunteered 
to  speak  very  favourably  of  my  character  and  attain- 
ments ! 

"  So  far,  so  good  ;  but  it  was  all  done  without  my 
knowledge  or  sanction." 

The  following  sweet  significant  picture  Is  a 
characteristic  sketch  of  my  Father  among  church 
bells  ;  one  of  the  very  rare  glimpses  we  get  of 
him  as  a  schoolboy  : — on  a  Sunday,  too  ! 

"  Bristol,  April  2j,  1836:' 

After  describing  a  busy  morning  In  the  city  he 
says  : 


6o  Edward  Hodges 


•'  I  walked  off  towards  Kingsdown.  On  my  way  I  fell  in 
with  Mr.  T.  G.  Bunt,  and  prevailed  on  him  to  accompany  to 
St.  Matthew's  Church  (newly  erected).  There  we  ascended 
the  steeple,  in  order  to  inspect  the  operations  going  on 
in  hanging  the  peal  of  eight  bells  presented  by  old  Mr. 
Bangley.  We  spent  a  considerable  time  there,  and  the 
men  were  so  civil  as  to  lift  the  tenor  bell  from  the  planks 
on  which  it  rested,  in  order  that  we  might  hear  its  tone, 
which  strongly  reminded  me  of  that  of  Chelwood  Church, 
when  I  was  a  school-boy  and  used  to  amuse  myself  as  I 
sat  in  the  chancel  on  a  cold  stone  seat  by  forming  har- 
monies to  it  with  my  voice.  One  of  the  men  said  the 
note  was  E.  Mr.  Bunt  thought  F.  The  weight  is  nearly 
21  cwt.  and  that  of  the  whole  peal  78  cwt." 

On  a  cold  stone  seat  in  the  chancel  of  the  old 
village  church,  and  his  mind  at  work  on  harmonies 
as  he  listened  to  the  bell  from  the  tower  ! 

To  continue  from  the  Diary  : 

' '  Cloisters,  May  9,  18^6. 

"Another  exhilarating  morning.  I  could  not  find  it  in 
my  heart  to  waste  such  a  day  by  sticking  to  my  desk,  so 
I  put  on  my  hat  (no  great  coat  however)  and  marched 
out.  After  making  an  appointment  with  John  Smith  for 
to-morrow,  I  directed  my  course  to  Clifton,  through  that 
delightful  parish  to  the  verge  of  Durdham  Down,  and  so 
by  the  Turnpike  road  to  the  side  of  the  River,  the  tide 
just  flowing.  I  truly  enjoyed  the  ramble  and  felt  grate- 
ful adoration  towards  the  Giver  of  all  good. 

''At  and  about  the  Hotwells  I  tarried  for  a  consider- 
able time  (two  hours  I  suppose),  witnessing  many  steam 
boat  motions,  and  the  departure  of  a  large  American 
Brig  (the  Tuscany)  full  of  emigrants,  towed  down  against 


'1     T  ■>  ■> 


->■>■>->     5  1, 


T      •>     ,   •>      1 


■)■>        1  ■>     > 


>     5  1 

1  1 


T  ■>   ■)     •)        1      '  1 


3  1 
1     ■>     1 


JO 


Z 


c  f  t 


tc 


f    c  f  < 


c  <     ret 


t  t  c  ' 


r  r 

f    f 

'    '     J 


r    r 


More  Diary  Extracts  6i 


wind  and  tide  by  the  two  new  steam  Tugs  the  Lioness 
and  the  Fury.  From  the  Wells  I  departed  by  the  bank 
of  the  new  course  of  the  Avon  and  so  across  Prince's 
Bridge  into  the  city." 

My  Father's  graphic  description  of  one  walk  Is 
an  Indication  of  his  enjoyment  of  the  hundreds  of 
rambles  he  took  to  Rownham  and  St.  Vincent's 
Rocks.  Here  was  not  only  a  grand  manifestation 
of  the  forces  of  Nature  in  the  upheaval  and  rending 
of  the  Rocks — a  truly  Imposing  sight — but  away 
and  beyond  towards  the  Avonmouth,  where  at  the 
Channel  It  joins  the  Severn,  there  Is  a  richness  and 
varied  beauty  of  green  and  woodland,  trending 
down  to  the  water  level,  and  an  expanse  of  view 
which  no  other  city  affords.  At  this  time  the  sec- 
ond seaport  In  the  kingdom,  the  shores  of  Its 
water-way  were  a  delightful  resort.  It  was  a  beau- 
tiful, as  well  as  a  suggestive  sight  at  the  flow  of 
the  tide,  to  watch  the  ships  and  steamers  passing 
up  and  down  the  river,  whose  winding  course 
doubled  Its  distance  from  Cumberland  Basin  to  the 
Channel. 

Added  to  this,  my  Father  had  opportunity  for 
the  Indulgence  of  his  favourite  study  of  Mechanics 
in  various  ways  ;  for  carrying  on  his  observations, 
and  thinking  out  his  own  thoughts,  about  steam 
engines,  and   propellers,   and  paddle  wheels,   and 


62  Edward  Hodges 


mud  removers,  and  dock  gates,  and  all  other  me- 
chanical contrivances  in  which  his  heart  delighted. 

"■January  i8,  iSjy. 

"  I  put  in  at  Fletcher's  office  and  at  length  obtained 
an  interview  with  that  gentleman.  I  mentioned  the  cir- 
cumstance that  I  had  a  railway  improvement  idea  to  dis- 
pose of,  and  my  wish  to  bring  it  before  the  Coal  Pit 
Heath  R.  R.  Comp.  (of  which  F.  is  secretary),  referring 
to  Mr.  Brunei  for  a  character  of  the  invention,  but  with- 
out describing  it.  It  was  agreed  that  I  should  write  a 
letter  to  Mr.  F.  which  he  promised  to  lay  before  the 
Committee  on  Friday. 

'*  At  four  I  dined  at  a  party  at  W.  H.  Baily's.  Did 
not  get  home  till  nearly  midnight.  Took  up  Buckland's 
Treatise  and  finished  it." 

"■  April  14,  i8s7. 

''  I  learned  a  piece  of  intelligence  which  is  far  from 
giving  me  pleasure,  viz.  that  a  Patent  has  been  taken  out 
by  some  man  for  an  invention  to  do  away  with  the  neces- 
sity of  employing  stationary  or  assistant  power  in  ascend- 
ing inclined  planes  on  Railroads.  Most  probably  it  is 
identical  with  my  invention  herein  recorded  (though  I 
believe  not  described)  and  which  I  communicated  several 
months  ago  to  Mr.  Brunei.  My  inventions  have  almost 
invariably  been  claimed  by  other  people." 

''  Cogitanda. 

''  Dec.  31,  1836. 

''  In  taking  a  review  of  the  past  year,  I  cannot  but  feel 
most  sensibly  that  life  is  a  dream,  and  that  all  '  things 
temporal '  are  but  shadows  at  the  best,  conducing  only 
to  Canity  and  vexation  of  spirit.'  Not  indeed  that  my 
lot  is  or  has  been  particularly  hard,  although  I  may  some- 


More  Diary  Extracts  63 


times  be  foolish  enough  to  fancy  so  ;  but  in  the  course  of 
my  forty  years'  experience,  the  sentiment  just  declared 
has  continually  gained  ground  upon  me  until  it  has  at- 
tained the  authority  of  settled  conviction.  Still  I  can 
enjoy  the  good  things  of  this  life  as  well  as  most  men, 
and  I  hope  that  I  can  enjoy  them  with  gratitude  to  the 
'Giver  of  all  good.'  Certainly  my  life  hitherto  has  been 
a  life  of  continued  trial  ;  but  my  hope  is  above.  This  is 
not  in  any  sense  my  *  continuing  city.*  All  the  troubles 
which  I  have  experienced  have,  as  I  confidently  trust, 
been  administered  or  permitted  in  mercy  and  in  love,  by 
Him  who  cannot  err.  Notwithstanding  this  comfortable 
dependence,  whilst  I  am  here  I  must  feel  with  humanity, 
and  in  no  year  of  my  earthly  sojourn  have  I  felt  more 
acutely  than  in  that  now  just  on  the  point  of  terminating, 
that  all  things  here  are  precarious  and  transitory,  illusory 
in  prospect  and  deceitful  in  possession.  Perhaps  of  all 
the  shades  and  descriptions  of  experience  in  life,  that  is 
the  most  favourable  to  the  idea  of  earthly  good,  in  which 
there  is  the  greatest  quantity  of  ungratified  hope.  If  so, 
my  lot  has  fallen  amongst  the  most  happy !" 

' '  November  6,  i8^i. 

^'  Forty  years  ago  my  Father,  then  ten  years  younger 
than  I  am  now,  was  translated  into  the  world  of  spirits. 
And  it  is  now  a  few  days  more  than  thirty-eight  years 
since  my  Mother  was  likewise  taken  away. 

"  Good  Lord  !  so  teach  me  to  number  my  days  that  I 
may  apply  my  heart  unto  wisdom." 

There  was  a  simple  dignity  about  my  Father's 
hour  of  Evening  Prayer.  At  ten  o'clock  the  little 
family  assembled.  His  "  Grandfather's  Bible  "  was 
brought  in  from  the  study  on  a  a  cushion  by  one  of 


64  Edward  Hodo"es 


^5 


his  sons  and  placed  before  him  ;  the  cushion  was 
for  him  to  kneel  on.  The  rays  from  the  lamp  fall- 
ing on  his  thoughtful  and  reverent  countenance, 
his  exquisite  reading,  and  the  light  thrown  on  the 
chosen  chapter  by  his  intelligent  study  of  the 
Sacred  Text,  and  the  emphasis  that  study  indicated, 
made  my  Father's  reading  of  the  Bible  a  memory 
to  be  treasured  all  one's  life. 

I  have  said  that  my  Father  chanted  (or  as  he 
liked  to  say  and  write,  Chaunted^  the  **  Nunc 
Dimittis"  the  last  thing  before  he  retired  at  night. 

This  was  one  of  the  most  exquisitely  plaintive 
prayers  one  could  listen  to. 

In  December,  1835,  ^Y  Father  made  a  short 
visit  to  London.  The  rapidity  of  his  movements 
on  these  occasions,  the  number  of  visits  he  made 
and  the  amount  of  ground  he  got  over,  are  truly 
astonishing. 

I  will  select  a  few  of  his  most  interesting  entries  ; 
Cooper  and  Attwood  were  the  Organists  at  St. 
Paul's  Cathedral  and  the  Chapel  Royal  (St.  James's) 
respectively. 

''Dec.  7. 

"  Snow  has  been  fast  falling  hitherto  all  the  morning. 
I  went  into  the  city  and  lounged  semi-studiously  at  the 
Commercial  Rooms. 

"  I  penetrated  as  far  as  the  Temple  Church  in  the 
evening  and  attended   Divine   Service.     The  organ  was 


More  Diary  Extracts  65 


managed  lamely  and  tamely  and  lifelessly  enough.  Cogan 
preached  a  good  sermon  from  the  text  '  Who  is  this?* 
I  sat  in  one  of  the  free  seats  at  the  bottom  of  the  church. 
As  I  entered  the  church  they  were  reading  the  Psalms. 
The  first  words  which  caught  my  ear  were,  '  Dwell  in  the 
land  and  verily  thou  shalt  be  fed,'  {Ps.  xxxvii)  the 
same  with  which  a  poor  old  deranged  woman  addressed 
me  as  I  entered  the  Cathedral ;  a  phrase  also  which 
both  the  late  Mrs.  Weare  and  my  late  aunt  Elizabeth 
Hodges  frequently  enforced  on  my  attention  when  I 
talked  of  the  necessity  of  my  removing  from  my  native 
city.  On  the  present  occasion  the  words  fastened  them- 
selves strongly  upon  my  mind,  and  many  other  passages 
of  the  same  Psalm  seemed  to  be  expressly  intended  for 
my  comfort  and  encouragement.  It  was  this  which 
induced  me  to  take  a  seat  and  hear  the  whole  Service, 
for  I  had  wandered  into  the  Porch  idly,  merely  to  hear  a 
bar  or  two  of  the  organ  playing. 

**  May  the  good  Lord  realize  in  my  experience  this 
gracious  promise  for  His  Mercy's  sake.     Amen." 

"  Friday,  December  nth. 

"  Lunched  with  Cooper  at  his  house.  Afterwards  went 
to  St.  Paul's.  Service  chaunted.  Spent  the  evening  at 
Baily's.  Cooper  there  also,  and  looked  over  some  of  my 
Anthems. 

"  I2th.  Call  on  Flight.  Visit  to  a  soup-shop,  long 
ditto  to  the  *  Gallery  of  Practical  Science.'  Dined  at 
Baily's.     CoUard  there  in  the  evening. 

"  13th.  Sunday.  At.  St.  Paul's  at  the  morning  and 
afternoon  service.  '  Played  out  '  at  the  latter,  as  also  at 
St.  Sepulchre's  in  the  morning,  and  the  Percy  Chapel  in 
the  evening.  Dined  with  Cooper,  made  a  miserable  meal. 
The  fault  not  his.  Attwood  very  hearty  and  cordial,  and 
in  love  with  the  idea  of  my  Organ  Sivell. 


66  Edward   Hodges 


"  14th.  Nothing  to  be  done  with  Paine  and  Hopkins 
about  the  pubHcation  of  my  *  Church  Reform  '  Anthem. 
Went  to  Mill-Wall,  Poplar,  to  look  for  Mr.  Seaward  to 
confer  about  my  steam-boat  project.  Conversation  with 
Capt.  McArthur  on  a  stage  coach  on  my  way  back.  At 
St.  Paul's  at  three  o'clock.  Played  the  '  Nunc  Dimittis.* 
Cooper  and  Baily  dined  with  me  at  the  Percy  at  five. 
Cooper  to  tea  also.  Concert  by  the  Society  of  British 
Musicians  at  the  Hanover  Square  Rooms.  Cooper  supt 
with  me  afterwards. 

**  15th  .  .  .  Paine  and  Hopkins  refuse  to  publish 
for  me  unless  entirely  at  my  own  risque.  At  St.  Paul's 
in  the  afternoon.  My  A''  chaunt  done.  Altered  and  spoilt. 
Flight  called  in  the  evening.  I  showed  him  the  Steamer 
Model  and  took  him  to  Baily's,  where  we  spent  a  merry 
evening  with  Cooper,  etc.,  etc. 

'*  i6th.  Wednesday.  Morning  spent  with  Flight, 
principally  at  the  Adelaide  Gallery  of  Practical  Science. 
Called  on  C.  C.  Clarke.  Dined  at  Baily's.  Took  a  share 
(10  guis.)  in  his  lottery  for  a  superb  statue  called  '  The 
Sleeping  Nymph.' 

"  17th.     Packed  up  and  left  London  by  nine. 

"  At  Windsor  by  eleven.  Chat  with  French,  etc. 
Chapel  visited.  Off  to  Maidenhead.  Dined  with  Mr. 
and  Miss  Atkinson. 

"  Slept  at  the  Bear.  Off  at  ten  for  Bath.  Arrived 
there  at  7  P.M.  Spent  the  evening  at  Mrs.  Gibbs'  cheer- 
fully. Slept  at  the  Greyhound.  Left  Bath  as  soon  as  I 
had  swallowed  my  breakfast  and  reached  home  before 
noon. 

"  19th.  Since  my  arrival  at  home  I  have  unpacked  my 
travelling  baggage  and  delivered  to  my  children  certain 
little  toys  which  I  purchased  for  them  in  London." 


More  Diary  Extracts  67 


(On  hearing  of  the  death  of  Dr.  Clark-Whitfeld, 
Professor  of  Music,  Cambridge.) 

'' Feb.  27  1836. 

"  The  vacant  Professorship  of  Cambridge  has  excited 
(but  very  gradually)  no  little  ambitious  feeling  in  my 
heart.  Yet  what  vanities  are  all  worldly  distinctions  ! 
Shall  I  however  be  content  to  occupy  but  a  low  position  ? 
As  a  servant  of  the  Most  High,  I  feel  that  I  may  law- 
fully aspire  to  such  a  position  in  society  as  in  His  good 
providence  may  be  within  my  reach,  trusting  that  He 
will  grant  me  the  grace  to  use  what  honour  may  accrue 
to  me  for  the  promotion  of  His  glory  and  the  good  of 
my  fellow  creatures. 

''  If  it  be  not  His  will  that  I  should  attain  the  post  now 
unoccupied,  vain  will  be  my  attempt.  I  hope  that  I  have 
by  this  time  learnt  a  little  of  true  and  unfeigned  resigna- 
tion. This  methinks  a  man  may  have,  under  defeat,  and  yet 
not  be  blind  to  the  circumstance  (if  so  it  were)  that  as  far 
as  man  was  concerned  he  had  been  unjustly  dealt  with." 

"  Oct.  28,  1837. 
**  The  affection  of  my  eyes  still  continuing,  I  have  medi- 
tated upon  the  posibility  of  my  becoming  blind,  and 
endeavoured  to  commit  a  fugue  (a  short  one  in  D  minor 
by  Sebastian  Bach)  to  memory.  This  is  with  me  a  matter 
of  intense  difficulty.  I  have  never  yet  been  able  to  play 
Memoriter  more  than  a  few  Chaunts,  Psalm-tunes  and 
simple  melodies." 

As  far  as  I  know  my  Father  suffered  only  from 
over-straining  his  eyes. 

Regarding  what  he  says  of  himself,  the  question 
arises  how  could  so  creative  a  mind  as  his,  one  so 


68  Edward   Hodges 


full  of  the  power  not  only  of  fugue  extemporisation 
— and  that  thoroughly  in  all  the  parts — but  of  the 
ability  to  write  elaborate  fugues  of  three  subjects — 
how  could  such  a  mind  feel  disposed  to  memorize 
similar  compositions  even  by  2i  greater  mind  ?  Are 
there  not  existing  antagonistic  mental  powers  ?  It 
would  be  interesting  to  follow  up  this  enquiry  ; 
whether  the  greatest  fugue  writers  were  also  the 
greatest  {\i^\i^ players,  or  were  not,  simply  because 
they  might  not  have  had  the  time  to  give  to  the 
necessary  study  which  committal  requires. 

The  mental  power  of  musicians  may  be  as  varied 
as  their  faces — no  two  alike. 

We  all  know  that  the  best  of  memories  may  at  the 
merest  trifle,  the  stir  even  of  an  insect's  wing,  prove 
treacherous  and  untrustworthy  ;  and  the  very  fact 
of  his  reverence  for  his  two  great  masters  made  him, 
if  possible,  more  artistically  true  to  them.  It  was 
remarkable  how  distinct  he  kept  the  great  mind  he 
was  rendering  from  his  own  powers  as  composer. 
In  the  one  case  he  was,  as  it  were,  in  the  traces  of 
truth  and  honour  to  ajiother ;  he  was  the  '*  voice 
of  one "  speaking  through  his  mind  and  fingers 
with  renewed  life  ;  but  when  he  spoke  of  Imnself 
at  his  organ,  in  prelude  and  fugue,  in  mysterious 
grandeur  or  spiritual  meditation,  or  in  the  exalta- 
tion of  the  ''  Hallelujah,"  when  his  thoughts  were 


More  Diary  Extracts  69 


inspired  by  the  service,  when  people  stood  trans- 
fixed in  the  aisles,  as  the  gorgeously  coloured  light 
from  the  windows  fell  through  the  church  :  then  it 
was  that  his  Pegasus  was  free  ;  and,  bounding 
above  our  limited  imaginary  views,  he  struck  the 
mountain-tops  in  the  lightness  of  his  footfall,  seem- 
ing to  pass  the  clouds  themselves,  and  to  take  his 
way  to  the  very  Source  of  life  and  genius,  of  sacred 
song  and  aspiration. 

What  need  had  he  to  memorize?  he,  whose 
perennial  fount  of  fresh  improvization,  or  medita- 
tion, or  jubilization  was  so  grand  and  exhaustible? 

Never  shall  I  forget  the  sound  of  his  exquisite 
fugue-playing  as  I  treasure  it  on  one  particular 
occasion.  It  was  after  the  Great  Western  had 
brought  my  sweet  sister  Miriam,  and  myself,  to 
New  York  in  the  summer  of  1841. 

We  were  all  living,  ourselves  and  our  newly- 
found  Father,  near  St.  John's  Park,  in  the  house  of 
Mr.  Charles  Horn,  grandson  of  a  former  organist  of 
the  Chapel  Royal,  Windsor,  and  son  of  Mr.  Charles 
E.  Horn,  the  fascinating  singer  of  Beethoven's'*  Ade- 
laide" and  composer  of  '*  Cherry  Ripe  "  and  lots  of 
taking  unforgetables  in  popular  music  ;  and  the  two 
actresses,  daughters  of  Wallack,  (then,  I  believe, 
a  leading  man  on  the  stage)  were  there  also. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE     WINDSOR     TRIAL. 

IN  March,  1835,  a  vacancy  having  occurred  in 
the  post  of  Organist  at  St.  George's  Chapel, 
Windsor,  my  Father  became  a  candidate  for  the 
position.  From  a  warm  friend  of  both  the  com- 
batants I  received  the  following  account  of  the 
competition  that  took  place  for  the  appointment, 
the  facts  being  given  to  him  by  one  who  was 
present  on  the  occasion. 

"  It  appears  that  there  were  no  less  than  thirty-two 
applicants  of  every  degree  and  kind,  J.  B.  Knight,  the 
ballad  writer,  being  one  of  them.  The  number,  after  a 
partial  trial  of  nearly  all,  was  reduced  to  twelve,  then  to 
six,  then  to  four,  and  finally  the  Dean  and  Chapter 
decided  upon  two  candidates.  Dr.  Edward  Hodges  and 
George  J.  Elvey,  each  of  whom  was  required  to  accom- 
pany the  choir  at  one  of  the  services,  with  the  privilege 
of  selecting  both  Service  and  Anthem  used  on  the  occa- 
sion. Mr.  Salmon  told  me  that  your  Father  played 
*  Gibbons  in  F,'  and  the  Anthem  by  Boyce ;  and  his 
accompaniments  were  greatly  admired  by  the  choir  and 
congregation.  The  following  day  young  Elvey's  turn 
came.     He  was  only  nineteen,  and  had  many  friends  and 

70 


The  Windsor  Trial  71 


admirers  ;  and  his  brother,  Dr.  Stephen  Elvey,  was  at  that 
time  Organist  of  New  College,  Oxford.  When  the  Dean 
and  Chapter  met  for  their  decision,  objection  was  made 
to  Elvey's  youth,  but  it  was  over-ruled  by  the  majority, 
on  the  ground  that  he  would  be  easier  to  manage  than 
Dr.  Hodges.  A  majority  of  the  Chapter  thought  the 
latter  candidate  would  be  more  desirable  ;  and  here  again 
the  Dean  interposed  by  saying  he  did  not  fancy  the 
broad-brimmed  hat  and  white  necktie,  and  boots  with 
pointed  toes,  suggesting  to  him  an  individuality  that 
might  prove  difficult  to  control — and  all  this  happened 
nearly  fifty  years  ago.  Every  one  of  the  chief  actors 
has  passed  off  this  stage  of  life,  and  Elvey  alone  remains ! 
When  he  goes  we  shall  have  seen  and  heard  the  last  of 
the  true  type  of  thoroughbred  Cathedral  Organists  and 
Musicians. 

"  Mr.  Salmon,  in  speaking  of  your  Father's  accompani- 
ments with  unstinted  praise,  said  to  me:  'Dr.  Hodges 
had  a  very  difficult  task  before  him  in  having  to  play 
on  an  F  manual  Organ  with  an  F  pedal  keyboard  when 
for  many  years  he  had  been  accustomed  to  a  C  manual 
and  pedal.'  You  of  course  know  that  the  Organ  in  St. 
James's  Church,  Bristol  was  the  first  CC  manual  and  CCC 
pedal  keyboard  made  in  England  ;  and  if  I  remember 
rightly,  it  had  a  16-foot  stopped  pipe,  speaking  the  32- 
feet  tone.  Among  my  books  was  a  volume  issued  as 
long  ago  as  1843,  containing  exclusively  your  Father's 
compositions,  and  among  them  his  '  Morning  and  Even- 
ing Service  in  C,'  and  the  Anthem  especially  written  for 
the  opening  of  St.  James's  Organ.  Sir  George  Elvey  told 
me  that  he  did  not  dare  to  play  in  public  upon  a  C  man- 
ual and  pedal,  he  could  take  no  big  chords  with  his  left 
hand  (G  and  A,  for  instance)  and  he  was  constantly  put- 
ting down  the  CCC  pedal  key,  thinking  it  was  the  FFF. 
While   speaking  about   Organs  I   may  tell  you  that  the 


72  Edward  Hod|:^es 


fe 


late  Dr.  S.  S.  Wesley  said  to  me  that  a  G  manual  with  G 
sharp  was  the  proper  compass  for  all  Organs  ;  but  in  all 
cases,  there  should  be  a  C  pedal  keyboard.  I  think  he 
was  right." 

It  was  in  the  glorious  Chapel  of  St.  George,  so 
truly  called  "  Royal,"  rich  in  its  storied  heraldry 
of  kings  and  emperors,  where  the  very  air,  that 
hardly  sways  the  banners  that  hang  there,  is  filled 
with  the  religious  loyalty  of  England,  where  the 
Royal  Standard  floats  before  the  rich  organ  case, 
where  the  iridescent  gleams  of  light  from  painted 
window  tint  and  touch  cornice,  capital,  or  column, 
or  fall  athwart  some  exquisite  monument  or  tomb, 
that  the  contest  for  the  office  of  organist  took 
place.  My  Father  himself  tells  the  story  of  it  in 
his  diary  in  the  cloistered  seclusion  of  his  own 
home  : 

''  May  22,  J 83s. 

"  On  Monday  evening  (past  10  o'clock),  March  2,  1835, 
on  my  return  from  a  chess  party  I  received  a  letter  from 
Mrs.  Pigott,  announcing  the  death  of  my  friend  Skeats^ 
the  Organist  of  St.  George's  Chapel,  Windsor,  couched 
in  such  terms  as  left  no  doubt  that  it  was  the  dying 
wish  of  the  deceased  officer  that  I  might  succeed  him. 
With  the  customary  misfortune  attending  anything 
connected  with  my  interests,  strange  to  say  this  letter 
(which  in  due  course  of  the  post  ought  to  have  been 
delivered  at  my  house  by  10  A.M.)  had  been  *  missent  to 
Westbury,'  the  consequence  of  which  was  that  it  was  not 
delivered  until  evening,  and  I  lost  the  whole  day.    Perhaps 


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The  Windsor  Trial  73 


this  delay  may  have  occasioned  some  of  the  (so-called) 
ill-luck  which  followed,  although  doubtless  all  was  '  ordered 
aright '  by  the  great  Disposer  of  events. 

"  I  prepared  for  my  journey  the  next  morning,  moved 
off  in  the  evening  by  the  Mail  Coach,  reached  Windsor 
early  on  Wednesday  (the  first  day  of  Lent,)  made  a  very 
favorable  impression  the  next  day  by  a  little  preliminary 
performance  upon  the  organ,  left  my  Testimonials,  from 
I  to  51  inclusive,  for  the  inspection  of  the  Chapter,  and 
returned  home  to  await  a  summons  to  appear  there  again 
for  a  more  formal  exhibition  of  my  talent  as  a  player. 

*'  In  due  course  I  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  de  St. 
Croix,  Chapter  Clerk,  appointing  Thursday,  the  ninth  of 
April,  for  my  performing  exhibition. 

"  I  accordingly  went  to  Windsor  again  (reaching  it  on 
the  8th)  and  on  the  morning  of  the  appointed  day  I  per- 
formed the  whole  of  the  musical  service.  (Gibbons  in  F, 
and  Boyce's  noble  Anthem,  '  O  where  shall  wisdom  be 
found  ?  ')  from  score.  Afterwards  I  played  for  an  hour 
various  pieces  of  music  and  extemporary  movements  ; 
and  when  I  had  concluded,  received  the  congratulations 
and  commendations  of  two  or  three  members  of  the 
Chapter,  who  spoke  in  such  a  vein  as  clearly  conveyed 
the  impression  that  they  looked  upon  me  as  their  future 
ofificer. 

"  However,  all  this  was  vain  and  illusory.  I  returned 
home  full  of  flattering  expectation  that  I  was  now  at 
length  just  about  to  attain  the  object  of  my  long  formed 
wishes.  The  election  was  to  take  place  on  Monday,  April 
27,  1835,  and  did  so  ;  but  not  myself  but  a  young  man 
named  George  Elvey  was  elected." 

The  following  letters,  bearing  upon  the  subject 
of  the  election,  are  of  interest. 


74  Edward   Hodc^es 


fe 


From  the  Rev.  Canon  Bowles,  A.M.,  of  Brem- 
hill  to  the  Rev.  R.  Musgrave,  of  Windsor. 

Canonry  Hoxise,  Salisbury,  March  14,  i8j^. 

"  My  Dear  Sir, 

"  Dr.  Hodges,  of  Bristol,  one  of  the  most  scientific  and 
practical  Musicians  in  England,  as  composer,  as  well  as  a 
most  skilful!  organist,  is  anxious  to  obtain  the  post  of 
Organist  at  Windsor  Castle  Chapel.  I  say  this  from  some 
knowledge  and  the  most  fervent  love  of  this  Art,  as  the 
powerful  auxiliary  to  our  affecting  Cathedral  services. 

**  His  compositions  in  this  line  are  sublime  and  affect- 
ing, and  I  am  equally  sure  I  can  equally  recommend  him 
as  an  exemplary  and  pious  character  and  admirable 
player. 

"  You  will,  I  am  sure,  put  forward  as  far  as  shall  be  in 
your  power  among  your  Chapter-brethren  this  summary 
of  his  merits, 

''  And  believe  me  ever  sincerely, 

^'W.  M.  Bowles." 

From  the  Rev.  R.  Musgrave,  Canon  of  Wind- 
sor, to  the  Rev.  Canon  Bowles  of  Salisbury. 

''  Mayr,  1835. 

"  My  Dear  Sir, 

'*  I  trust  you  will  not  think  me  remiss  in  having  suf- 
fered your  letter  to  remain  so  long  unanswered.  But  I 
was  unwilling  to  write  to  you  till  I  could  communicate 
the  result  of  the  contest  for  the  vacant  situation  of 
Organist  at  Windsor. 

"  I  need  not  say  that  I  lost  no  time  in  forwarding  your 
high  testimonial  of  Dr.  Hodges'  merits  (who,  as  I  am  told, 
performed  Luther's  Hymn  in  the  most  affecting  and  beau- 
tiful manner)  to  the  Chapter. 


The  Windsor  Trial  75 


"  There  were  several  other  most  highly  talented  Candi- 
dates— young  men  of  excellent  character,  upon  one  of 
whom  the  election  devolved,  a  Mr.  Elvey  from  Oxford, 
whose  merit  I  think  will  not  be  lessened  by  the  circum- 
stance of  Dr.  Hodg-es'  having  said  that  he  thought  him 
one  of  the  most  talented  young  performers  he  had  ever 
heard.  I  need  not  assure  you  what  pleasure  it  would 
have  afforded  me  had  the  election  terminated  according 
to  the  wishes  expressed  by  one  whose  sound  judgment 
and  beautiful  taste  in  Cathedral  music  is  so  universally 
and  justly  appreciated. 

'' Always  with  great  truth, 

"  R.    MUSGRAVE." 

Part  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  French,  one  of  the 
gentlemen  of  the  Choir  of  the  Chapel  Royal  of  St. 
George. 

"  Windsor,  May  i6,  i8jj. 

''  To  Dr.  Hodges. 

"  My  Dear  Sir, 

**  I  am  at  a  loss  to  conjecture  how  your  professional 
talent  can  at  all  suffer  from  your  not  being  appointed 
here. 

*'  Your  performance  was  highly  approved  by  all,  and 
your  talent  as  an  Organist  and  Composer  stands  too  high 
in  the  musical  world  to  lose  one  jot  from  the  disappoint- 
ment which  you  lay  so  much  to  heart, 
**  Many  thanks  for  the  pamphlets. 

"  I  remain  dear  Sir, 

"  Yours  truly, 

''  JosiAH  French." 

The   "Pamphlets"   Included   one   which  Canon 


76  Edward  Hodges 


Bowles  styled  my  Father's  "  Admirable    Defence 
of  Church   Music." 

From  W.  de  St.  Croix,  Chapter  Clerk  of  Wind- 
sor Chapel  Royal. 

"  Windsor,  May,  1835. 

"  To  Dr.  Hodges. 

"  I  sincerely  sympathize  with  you  under  the  disappoint- 
ment you  have  experienced  at  the  result  of  the  election, 
but  you  well  know  that  *  the  race  is  not  always  to  the 
swift.' 

*'  Your  performance  of  Luther's  Hymn  has  made  an 
impression  in  favour  of  your  musical  talents  that  will 
long  be  remembered  by  those  who  were  so  fortunate  as 
to  be  present  at  your  trial ;  and  the  favourable  terms  in 
which  you  expressed  yourself  respecting  the  merits  of  a 
rival  Candidate,  so  far  from  operating  to  your  disadvan- 
tage, was  considered  most  honourable,  generous,  and  dis- 
interested conduct  on  your  part,  and  met  with  the  applause 
to  which  such  handsome  conduct  was  entitled. 
"  I  remain  Sir, 

"  Your  faithful  and  obedient  servant, 

''  W.  DE  St.  Croix. 

"  Dr.  Edward  Hodges,  Bristol." 

From  the  Diary  : 

Saturday,  June  18,  i8j^. 

"  Soon  after  I  reached  the  house  I  chanced  to  take  up 
*'  Felix  Farley,"  and  almost  the  first  thing  I  observed  was 
a  notice  of  the  decease  of  Mr.  Paddon,  Organist  of  Exe- 
ter Cathedral.  This  suddenly  stirred  me  up  to  think  of 
making  another  attempt  to  secure  such  a  post  as  he  has 
vacated,  but   I  confess   that  I  have  very  little  notion   of 


Last  Years  in  Bristol  ^^ 


succeeding  at  Exeter,  neither  have  I  so  strong  an  inclina- 
tion to  reside  in  that  city,  as  I  had  to  effect  a  settlement  at 
Windsor. 

"However,  'not  as  I  will.*  As  a  matter  of  duty  I 
resolved  to  make  some  inquiries  upon  the  subject,  and 
accordingly  I  waited  upon  Mr.  Martin  (an  Exeter  man) 
in  the  evening,  and  obtained  from  him  some  particulars 
as  to  the  names  of  some  of  the  ofificers  of  the  Cathedral. 
He  read  me  a  paragraph  from  the  Exeter  newspaper, 
wherein  the  Editor  states  his  understanding  that  the 
ofifice  of  organist  is  to  be  thrown  open  to  free  competi- 
tion, and  that  Sir  George  Smart  is  to  be  appointed  um- 
pire or  judge  on  the  occasion.  If  so,  there  will  be  no 
hope  for  me.  One  of  his  own  pupils  will  be  sure  to  gain 
the  appointment.  However,  I  resolved  to  write  to  Exe- 
ter for  official  information  as  to  the  nature  of  the  pro- 
ceedings to  be  adopted,  and  accordingly,  when  I  came 
home,  I  wrote  a  letter  to  Ralph  Barnes,  Esq.,  the  Chap- 
ter-Clerk, asking  a  few  questions  and  stating  my  desire  to 
become  a  candidate  provided  the  election  is  to  be  con- 
ducted upon  the  just  ground  of  the  general  qualifications 
and  character  of  the  candidates,  and  not  upon  the  mere 
agility  of  their  fingers." 

''^  July  ^ist. 

"  I  received  a  letter  from  Exeter  this  morning.  It  was 
from  Mr.  Barnes,  couched  in  the  kindest  possible  terms, 
to  inform  me  that  the  Chapter  of  Exeter  had  come  to  the 
decision  to  prefer  two  candidates  before  me,  one  of  whom 
had  been  bred  up  in  a  Cathedral  Choir,  and  the  other  had 
had  the  management  of  such  a  body.  (I  instantly  fixed 
upon  Dixon  and  young  Wesley  as  the  two  parties  referred 
to.)  This  communication  had  a  strange  effect  upon  my 
spirits.  I  felt  horribly  depressed,  not  that  the  choice  had 
not  fallen    upon    me,    but    that  the    reason    now    tactily 


78  Edward  Hodges 


assigned  was  the  defect  of  my  education  as  not  being  a 
Cathedralite. 

*'  Well !  well !  my  Master  can  yet  provide  for  me,  but  it 
would  seem  as  though  it  were  not  to  be  in  my  own  way. 

"  I  went  into  town  and  read  the  papers." 

After  an  interval  my  Father  continues  : 

''  The  Exeter  Cathedral  appointment  is  not  to  be  con- 
ferred upon  me,  and  for  this  reason,  because  I  am  not  a 
Cathedral-bred  man.  If  the  objection  be  valid  it  shuts 
up  my  prospects /i?r  life.  Aye  more.  It  consigns  me  to 
an  early  grave.  Not  that  I  am  now  in  danger  of  com- 
mitting suicide,  but  that  I  am  convinced  that  I  am  not 
calculated  by  constitution  to  contend  with  an  uninter- 
rupted course  of  vexatious  circumstances.  Character  and 
qualifications  seem  to  have  been  allowed  to  be  proved  to 
the  fullest  extent  (saving  only  practical  demonstration, 
and  I  begin  to  regret  that  this  was  not  had  recourse  to), 
yet  my  pretensions  were  unceremoniously  set  aside,  with- 
out a  trial,  because  I  did  not  have  the  happiness  (shall  I 
say  misfortune?)  to  be  trained  under  a  Cathedral  Organ- 
ist, a  man  who  for  the  greater  part  neglects  his  duty,  and 
leaves  the  services  to  be  conducted  by  any  scrub  who  can 
get  through  with  them.  The  thing  galls  me,  and  not- 
withstanding the  marked  politeness  and  kind  attention  of 
Mr.  Barnes,  the  Chapter-Clerk  of  Exeter,  a  man  who 
though  unknown  I  begin  to  love,  does  not  increase  my 
affection  for  Deans  and  Chapters  generally,  who  seem  to 
be  actuated  by  a  very  queer  set  of  motives." 

July  31st. 

"  It  chanced  that  on  entering  my  study  this  morning,  I 
noticed  a  large  black,  and  strange  bird  in  the  Bishop's 
Garden  beneath  my  windows.     On  enquiry  I  found  he 


Last  Years  in  Bristol  79 


had  been  seen  there  several  hours.  In  the  course  of  the 
morning  I  sent  for  the  key  of  the  garden,  in  order  to  ex- 
amine the  bird,  to  ascertain  why  it  continued  there,  as  it 
appeared  to  be  unable  to  fly,  and  not  very  expert  in  hop- 
ping about. 

"  The  key  could  not  be  obtained,  but  Mr.  Crook  hap- 
pening to  come  in,  he  undertook  to  scale  the  garden  wall 
by  the  help  of  my  ladder,  and  after  a  diligent  search, 
found  the  poor  bird  in  a  dark  corner  of  the  ruins  of  the 
Bishop's  Palace,  and  brought  him  in.  We  placed  him  in 
a  cage  I  had  brought  for  a  pair  of  doves  several  years  ago. 
The  bird  proved  to  be  in  very  good  condition,  rather  tame 
than  otherwise,  but  to  have  lost  one  foot !     I  thought  it 

» 

was  a  Raven,  but  on  reference  to  a  book  on  Natural  His- 
tory we  agreed  to  pronounce  it  a  crow,  as  it  had  not  the 
dimensions  assigned  to  the  former.  The  fellow  ate  and 
drank  heartily  and  did  not  appear  incommoded  by  its 
imprisonment. 

"  Now  this  little  occurrence  suggested  to  my  mind  an 
odd  fancy,  in  the  shape  of  an  analogical  prophecy.  I  had 
two  Cathedral  organs  in  prospect,  as  the  bird  had  doubt- 
less originally  two  feet.  But  he  has  lost  one  of  them.  So 
have  I.  His  leg  or  ankle,  however,  betrays  no  wound,  the 
bird  is  none  the  worse  for  it.  Why  should  I  be  for  my 
loss?  The  remaining  leg  and  foot  are  sound  and  ser- 
viceable. Perhaps  my  remaining  leg  may  be  trustworthy 
yet  !  Who  knows?  Should  Sam  Wesley  gain  his  point 
at  Exeter,  how  the  bull  will  run  at  Hereford  !  But  what 
fancies  do  I  run  into  !  Does  Providence  intimate  its  will 
by  the  intervention  of  crows  or  ravens?  Truly  it  may  : 
for  God  sent  the  ravens  to  feed  his  prophet,  and  he  may 
have  sent  a  crow  to  comfort  me  in  my  disappointment." 

Aug.  14th. 

*' After  I  had  discharged  my  customary  morning  en- 
gagements, I   wrote  a  letter   to   Mr.   Barnes  of   Exeter, 


8o  Edward   Hodges 


thanking  him  for  the  very  great  kindness  evinced  in  his 
correspondence,  and  at  the  same  time  venturing  to  con- 
travene (as  far  as  written  words  can)  the  principle  laid 
down  by  the  Chapter  of  Exeter,  as  operating  to  my  ex- 
clusion from  all  competition  for  the  situation  of  Cathe- 
dral Organist.  This  I  did  first  by  direct  attack  on  the 
maxim,  as  being  one  which  could  only  be  proved  or  dis- 
proved by  experiment,  and  next  by  adverting  to  some 
facts  in  my  personal  history  not  hitherto  brought 
forward. 

"  It  is  barely  possible  that,  if  the  Chapter  have  not 
come  to  a  definite  decision,  this  letter  may  reach  their 
hands  ;  and  that  in  that  case  it  may  produce  some  small 
effect  on  their  minds.  But  the  greater  probability  is, 
that  the  matter  has  been,  ere  this,  definitely  settled." 

''  August  ly,  j8sS' 
"  In  the  Cloister  I    found  a  letter  awaiting  me    from 
Exeter,  wherein  Mr.  Barnes  informs  me  that  the  Chapter 
have  elected  Mr.  Wesley  of  Hereford." 

After  hearing  of  Wesley's  election,  my  father 
sent  his  testimonials  to  Hereford. 


F 


CHAPTER  VII. 

LAST    YEARS    IN    BRISTOL. 

ROM  the  Bristol  Mirror  : 


"  February,  i8j6. 

"  The  organ  of  St.  Stephen's  Church  now  building  by 
Mr.  John  Smith  the  younger,  under  the  superintendence 
of  Dr.  Hodges,  is  rapidly  approaching  completion,  and, 
although  not  large,  promises  to  be  a  superior  instrument, 
embodying  all  the  latest  improvements." 

The  Anthem,  Ps.  ij6,  which  I  have  denomi- 
nated a  prince  among  my  Father's  compositions, 
was  performed  at  the  opening  of  St.  Stephen's 
organ,  regarding  which  ceremony,  as  well  as  the 
composition  of  the  Anthem,  I  give  a  few  interest- 
ing particulars  from  the  Diary. 

">«.  ^5, 1836. 
"  I  made  a  fair  commencement  of  an  anthem  (Ps.  136)^ 
and,  with  intermission,  continued  the  employment  until 

II  P.M. 

'•  Jan.  27,  1836. 

"  In  the  evening  I   worked  again   at   my   new  anthem 
and  made  a  little  progress,  but  laboured  under  too  much 
real  sadness  to  prosecute  such  an  undertaking  with  likeli- 
6  81 


82  Edward  Hodges 


hood  of  success  or  rapidity.  I  wish  the  composition  to 
be  cheerful,  yet  my  heart  is  in  heaviness.  My  way  is  alto- 
gether shut  in.     I  cannot  get  forth." 

On  the  subject  of  organs  everywhere,  In  town  or 
country,  in  Church  or  Chapel,  for  the  erection  or 
reconstruction  or  drawing  up  specifications  for  new 
ones,  my  Father  was  the  sole  authority.  Through 
the  organ  builders  of  London  and  Bristol,  his  Im- 
provements and  suggestions  became  adopted  by 
degrees  ;  and  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge  brought 
him  oftentimes  not  even  the  credit  of  the  inven- 
tion. It  was  a  strange  and  true  remark  made  to 
me  by  the  excellent  Dr.  Garrett  of  St.  John's, 
Cambridge,  only  a  few  years  ago  :  **  I  had  always 
a  mooning  idea  that  In  the  matter  of  organs  we 
owed  very  much  to  your  Father."  A  mooning 
idea  !  Very  suggestive  simile  ;  conveying  an  idea 
of  extensive  good,  though  you  could  not  quite  place, 
nor  define  it. 

''  Jan.  31st. 

*'  Amidst  my  troubles  and  complicated  sorrows  I  have 
commenced  the  composition  of  a  Thanksgiving  Anthem, 
which  I  trust  will  prove  a  solace  and  comfort  in  my  dis- 
tress." 

''Feb,  Jith. 

"  Wellington  came  in  the  early  part  of  the  evening  and 
I  had  a  couple  of  games  of  chess  with  him.     The  fact  was 


Last  Years  in  Bristol  83 


that  my  head  was  by  that  time  pretty  well  fagged,  and 
ached  too,  and  my  imagination  was  more  disposed  to 
revert  to  '  Sehon,  king  of  the  Amorites  and  Og,  the  king 
of  Basan,'  than  to  form  chess  combinations  with  facility. 
"  I  read  for  a  considerable  time  out  of  Matthew  Henry's 
Commentaries,  but  was  more  than  ever  impressed  with 
the  conviction  that  such  human  labours  rather  tend  to 
impair  than  to  exalt  the  effect  of  the  perusal  of  the  Bible, 
excepting  always  such  commentaries,  and  such  only,  as 
have  for  their  object  the  actual  explanation  or  elucidation 
of  the  text,  the  fixing  of  dates,  &c.,  &c." 

From  his  Monthly  Review. 

"  February  2gth. 

"  I  have  worked  at  my  new  Anthem  ( Ps,  ij6)  very 
slowly,  and  latterly  the  work  has  been  altogether  sus- 
pended by  my  bodily  affliction.  I  am  afraid  that  as  a 
whole  it  will  turn  out  but  poor  disjointed  stuff.  It  is  to 
conclude  with  a  double  fugue  in  eight  real  parts,  a  work  of 
no  small  labour,  I  ween. 

"  In  the  afternoon  I  took  about  '  forty  winks  '  of  sleep, 
and  in  the  evening  made  a  commencement  of  my  fugue, 
upon  (with  but  trifling  variation)  the  same  subject  which 
I  had  thought  of  before  I  wrote  a  single  bar  of  the 
Anthem !  " 

"  March  ph. 

''  John  Smith  and  I  still  disagree  about  the  tone  of  the 
Instrument  (St.  Stephen's  Organ).  He  almost  insists 
upon  retaining  the  old  and  abominable  Wolf  ;  instead  of 
distributing  it  throughout  the  system,  throwing  it  into 
glaring  prominence  in  the  Key  of  A(^." 

"  March  gth,  i8jj. 

**  John  Smith  called  this  morning  and  I  gave  him  per- 
mission to  cover   the   Swell-box  of   St.  Stephen's  organ 


84  Edward  Hodges 


with  box-boards  instead  of  milled-boards,  the  former 
being  perhaps  in  some  respects  even  better  adapted  to 
the  prevention  of  the  transmission  of  sound  than  the 
latter,  and  lO  pr.  cent,  cheaper." 

"  March  22d. 

**  I  made  an  attempt  to  bring  the  anthem  to  a  conclu- 
sion, and  think  I  now  see  my  way  clear  to  the  doublebar." 

"  Never  have  I  bestowed  more  labour  on  a  composition 
than  I  have  done  on  this  ;  and  never  perhaps  felt  less 
self-complacency  on  a  review  of  the  work  when  approach- 
ing" its  close." 


'fc> 


And  a  few  days  before  he  says  : 

*'  My  Fugue  proceeded  a  little  way.  It  is  a  very  heavy 
up-hill  sort  of  a  job." 

'' March 31st. 

"  I  have  contrived  to  finish  my  anthem  ( Ps.  ij6j,  and 
T.  H.  Crook  now  has  the  Score  to  make  a  fair  copy. 

"  Whether  the  composition  be  good  for  anything  or  not 
is  more  than  doubtful.     Probably  it  is  too  elaborate." 

"  April  lyth. 

"  I  learnt  to-day  that  a  general  invitation  has  been  given 
to  the  whole  of  the  Choral  Society  to  attend  and  assist  at 
the  Opening  of  St.  Stephen's  Organ. 

"  At  this  rate  I  shall  have  a  pretty  mess  of  it  !  'T  will 
never  do  for  me !  " 

' '  April  igth. 

"  In  the  evening  the  church  warden  and  one  of  the 
Vestry  of  St.  Stephen's  called  here  officially  to  request  my 
undertaking  the  Opening  of  their  new  Organ,  when  we 
had  a  long  discussion  upon  the  proper  mode  of  conduct- 
ing that  business. 

**  My  notion  and  suggestion  was  that  the  most  appro- 


Last  Years  in  Bristol  85 


priate  method  was  simply  to  get  up  a  little  quiet  music 
on  the  occasion  in  proper  course,  as  forming  part  of  the 
regular  church  service,  including  an  Anthem  in  the  even- 
ing, and  this  course  was  ultimately  resolved  upon." 

"  May  3d, 

"  I  went  into  town  and  spent  much  time  at  St.  Stephen's. 
The  action  of  swell  does  not  please  me,  being  very  unequal. 
I  begged  Smith  to  try  to  improve  it. 

"At  home  at  four.     I  dined  with  Jubal. 

"  England  tuned  my  Piano-forte  this  morning.  He 
declined  rendering  any  assistance  on  occasion  of  the 
Opening  of  St.  Stephen's  Organ,  on  the  ground  that  as  a 
Roman  Catholic  he  could  not  join  in  the  religious  cere- 
monies of  any  other  'sect.' 

"  I  wish  that  all  Protestants  were  as  rigid  !  Roman 
Catholic  Music  in  this  country  would  then  be  at  a  very 
low  ebb." 

A  plan  had  been  entertained  of  having  a  showy 
performance,  with  additional  vocalists  and  Instru- 
mentalists from  Bath  ;  but  my  Father  simply  said 
in  that  case  he  would  withdraw  ;  whereupon  his 
plan  and  Ideas  were  carried  out. 

By  the  loth  of  May  the  weather  had  become 
beautiful ;  his  sufferings  were  well  over,  and  his 
notes  were  notes  of  thankfulness.  He  writes, 
''  After  nine  hours  of  unbroken  sleep  I  arose  re- 
freshed and  gave  God  thanks."  His  hours  pass 
rapidly  in  furthering  his  musical  choir  and  organ 
arrangements.  "  Exhilarating  mornings  of  glori- 
ous sunshine  "  succeed  each  other,  and  he  says  : 


86  Edward  Hodges 


"I  am  thus  picking  up  health  by  out-of-door  exercise, 
and  am  truly  thankful  to  my  gracious  Master  for  the  im- 
provement in  that  respect,  of  which  I  am  conscious,  and 
which  my  friends  also  have  observed.  'T  is  wonderful 
too,  considering  the  load  of  anxiety  I  have  on  my  mind." 

"  May  nth. 

"  Before  dinner  I  took  Faustina  and  Handel  a  good  walk 
through  Clifton  and  the  Hotwells.  We  witnessed  the  arri- 
val of  a  good  deal  of  shipping,  the  wind  having  veered 
round  to  the  Westward.  Home  by  four,  after  being  absent 
two  hours.  Cold  beef  for  dinner.  Good  meat  and  good 
appetite.  In  the  evening  we  had  a  grand  muster  of  vocal- 
ists and  others,  for  a  third  rehearsal  of  the  music  for  St. 
Stephen's.  There  were  present  twenty-four,  including 
Handel  (who  led  the  second  choir)  and  myself.  We  re- 
hearsed nearly  all  the  music  that  is  to  be  done  ;  but  there 
was  toward  the  last  some  confusion  owing  to  the  frolic- 
someness  of  three  of  the  gentlemen  aided  by  the  sly 
humour  of  two  others.     All  off  by  half  past  eleven. 

"  I  was  much  fatigued,  my  patience  having  been  worried 
in  a  very  great  degree.  I  did  not  go  to  bed  for  more  than 
an  hour  later." 

' '  May  ijth. 

"  Another  delightful  morning.  I  spent  it  '  up  in  town  ' 
in  a  very  vagabondish  manner,  vibrating  principally  be- 
tween St.  Stephen's  and  certain  printing  offices  in  the 
vicinity.  Soon  after  noon  I  ascended  St.  Stephen's 
Tower,  in  company  with  L.  Livett  and  two  other  gentle- 
men. We  there  enjoyed  the  panoramic  view  of  the  city, 
and  partook  of  bread  and  cheese  and  bottled  porter! 

/'  At  half  past  six  the  grand  Rehearsal  took  place  at  the 
Church. 

"  I  sent  for  a  fly  and  rode  thither  in  company  with  a 
great  quantity  of  music  books.     All  the  pieces,  except  my 


5      )    -,     J     1      5  -, 


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ST.  Stephen's  church,  Bristol. 


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Last  Years  in  Bristol  87 


*  Cantate  '  and  '  Deus  Misereatur/  were  rehearsed.  We  did 
the  Anthem  thrice,  and  the  Fugue  yet  once  more.  Still  it 
was  by  no  means  we//  done.  I  hope  and  believe  that  all 
will  go  better  on  Sunday,  when  the  parties  will  be  inclined 
to  conduct  themselves  decorously,  if  not  devoutly.  I  was 
annoyed  by  some  of  them  entering  the  Church  and  the 
Organ  Gallery  too,  with  their  /lats  on.  I  placed  Crook 
at  the  Organ  to  rehearse  the  '  Te  Deum  '  :  he  went  on 
with  the  ^  Jubilate  '  also.  The  organ  answers  very  well, 
but  requires  the  employment  of  its  full  power  in  accom- 
panying nearly  all  the  vocal  music,  otherwise  the  voices 
do  not  keep  together." 

"  All  the  afternoon  I  was  closely  engaged  writing  out 
Psalm-tune  Parts  for  my  numerous  choir  of  to-morrow  ; 
and  at  night  I  tried  in  vain  to  settle  on  a  subject  for  an 
extempore  voluntary  to-morrow,  but  was  obliged  to  go 
to  bed  without  accomplishing  the  object." 

"  Sunday  ijth. 

"The  service  commenced  precisely  at  eleven  o'clock. 
The  church  was  completely  filled — aisles,  chancel  and  all. 
Croft's  '  This  is  the  Day '  went  off  with  great  spirit.  I 
played  a  voluntary  extempore,  but  was  by  no  means 
happy  in  the  effusion,  and  felt  cramped  by  the  limited 
nature  of  the  Instrument.  The  Service  (mine  in  C)  went 
off  trippingly,  both  morning  and  evening.  The  *  Kyrie  * 
was  particularly  well  sung,  and  the  Psalm  Tunes  became 
(what  they  should  be)  genuine  Chorales.  The  Anthem 
in  the  evening  did  not  pass  off  as  well  as  I  could  wish, 
some  few  of  the  points  being  either  not  taken  up  at  all, 
or  imperfectly  executed.  Had  Handel  been  leader  of  the 
principal  Choir,  the  whole  would  have  gone  off  much 
better.     For  the  postludes  I  took,  in  the  morning  *  The 


88  Edward  Hodges 


Horse  and  his  Rider,'  Chorus  of  Handel  ;  in  the  evening, 
the  Overture  in  '  Saul.'  For  the  Voluntary  in  the  evening 
I  played  Bach's  splendid  Organ  Pedal  Fugue  in  G  minor 
as  a  duet  with  Crook.  Neither  of  my  Assistants  however 
were  sufficiently  steady. 

"  The  Chaunt  in  the  evening  was  mine  in  G*  minor 
played  in  G^,  which  was  pronounced  by  Mr.  Attwood, 
man-milliner  and  organist  (!)  to  be  one  of  the  dullest 
things  he  ever  heard  !  " 

"  Sept  22d. 

"  I  called  at  Christ  Church  and  inspected  the  new  organ 
in  progress  there.  Some  of  the  Stops  of  the  Choir  and 
Swell  are  done  ;  but  none  as  yet  of  the  Great  Organ. 
More  of  this  instrument  another  time." 

"  Sept.  26th. 

"  I  Spent  some  time  at  Christ  Church.  The  Swell  there 
on  my  new  principle  will  be  a  fine  one.  They  have 
adopted  also  my  Brass  Pedals." 

' '  Nov.  14th. 

"  I  took  Revs.  John  and  Thomas  West  to  Christ 
Church  and  there  played  the  organ  to  them  for  a  little 
while.  As  the  instrument  approaches  completion  I  do 
not  like  it  as  well  as  I  thought  I  should.  Many  of  the 
arrangements  are  very  awkward,  clumsy,  and  ill-contrived. 
The  Swell  Pedal  is  out  of  the  way  and  heavy  in  operation. 
The  Pedals  are  too  remote  from  the  key-board  and  too 
far  under  the  keys.  It  is  altogether  a  disagreeable  instru- 
ment to  play  on,  although  the  contents  are  upon  the 
whole  very  good." 

"  Nov.  2 1  St. 

*'  Going  through  town  I  put  in  first  at  Christ  Church 
(where  the  new  organ  approaches  completion)  and  had  a 
rattle  upon  the  instrument." 


Last  Years  in  Bristol  89 


"  June  21,  i8jy. 

''  The  official  intelligence  was  this  morning  promulgated 
in  Bristol  that 

"  King  William  IV  died  yesterday  at  2^  12     A.M. 

"  Of  course  the  bells  tolled  mournfully,  but  there  was 
no  grief. 

*'  Concerning  his  short  and  inglorious  reign  I  will  say 
nothing  here.     May  the  next  be  more  prosperous." 

"  I  endeavoured  to  select  some  words  for  a  Funeral 
Anthem  for  the  late  King,  and  again  failed  ;  I  could  find 
nothing  appropriate." 

"  All  the  evening  I  was  busy  selecting  words  for  a 
Funeral  Anthem,  or  rather  collecting  words  from  which 
hereafter  to  make  a  selection.  They  say  the  King  is  to 
be  buried  on  the  6th  of  July.  If  I  do  anything  I  must  do 
it  quickly." 

''  2gtk. 

**  I  came  home  and  made  an  attempt  at  the  opening 
recitation,  etc.,  of  an  Anthem  for  William  IV.  I  worked 
until  after  midnight  but  did  not  make  any  very  satisfac- 
tory progress." 

''yufy  ist. 
*'  I  proceeded  with  the  Anthem  until  nearly  noon." 

"Before  I  went  to  bed  I  did  a  little  (in  pencil)  at  my 
Anthem,  and  finished  it  to-day." 

'♦  yufy  6th. 
*'  King  William  IV.  was  buried  this  day  at  Windsor,  but 
the  Clergymen  of  Bristol  were  on  this  'occasion  too  lazy 
to  induli^e  their  flocks  with  divine  service  on  the  day  of 


90  Edward   Hodges 


interment,  as  they  had  done  on   the  decease   of  former 
monarchs. 

*'  The  shops  were  shut  ;  so  were  the  churches  and 
chapels.  Of  course  therefore  my  new  Anthem  could  not 
be  publicly  performed.  Nevertheless  I  was  bent  upon 
launching  my  little  composition  after  having  taken  the 
trouble  to  construct  it,  so  I  ordered  some  bills  of  the 
words  to  be  printed  (by  Fuller,  a  radical,  all  the  tory 
printers  being  full  to  overflowing  of  election  work)  at  the 
foot  of  which  I  inserted  the  following  memorandum  : 

"  '  Composed  for  the  day  of  Interment,  by  Dr.  Hodges ; 
and  now  intended  to  be  performed  at  St.  James'  Church, 
Bristol,  after  the  evening  service, 

"  '  on  Sunday  July  9,  1837.' 

*'  The  bills  to  the  number  of  one  hundred  and  twelve 
only,  were  very  nicely  executed,  and  sent  home  in  the 
evening. 

"  Meanwhile  I  ascended  the  hill  and  dined  with  my 
sister  at  Kingsdown  Parade.  In  the  evening  I  returned 
(about  8  o'clock,)  picked  up  J.  Birtill  by  the  way,  and 
held  a  second  little  partial  rehearsal  of  the  Anthem  with 
him,  Sam.  Wallis,  F.  Hodges,  and  Handel. 

' '  Sunday,  July  gth. 

"9.15  A.M.,  Domestic  prayers.  10.30  I  was  at  St. 
James,'  and  at  11  at  St.  Nicholas',  where  I  distributed  a 
few  papers  among  particular  friends. 

"  At  2.30,  at  my  house  in  the  Cloisters,  we  held  another 
partial  rehearsal  of  the  Anthem. 

"At  6  o'clock  I  was  at  St.  James',  and  mustered  up 
something  like  a  choir.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  service 
there  was  a  considerable  augmentation  of  both  the  con- 
gregation and  choir.  I  played  the  *  Dead  March  in  Saul ' 
and  after  a  little  delay  we  proceeded  to  perform  my  new 
Funeral  Anthem  for  King  William  IV.     The  Anthem 


Last  Years  in  Bristol  91 


was  got  through  pretty  well.  We  could  have  added 
many  more  to  the  choir  had  we  had  copies  wherewith  to 
supply  them.  The  audience  was  immense.  The  parson 
remained  in  the  pulpit,  the  people  remained  in  their 
pews.  Crowds  arrived  from  other  places  of  worship.  I 
hope  they  were  gratified.  All  over,  I  came  home^to  sup- 
per in  peace  and  quietness." 

The  same  year  he  wrote  the  following  poem  on 
Queen  Victoria. 

GOD  SAVE  THE  QUEEN. 

CHORAL    GLEE. 

Long  life  to  our  Queen! 
The  fairest  e'er  seen, 

And  death  to  her  foes. 

If  such  the  world  knows. 
May  a  spotless  renown 
Attend  on  her  Crown, 

And  her  glory  extend 

Ever,  world  without  end. 

May  peace  and  virtue  never  cease, 
Through  her  long  reign  to  find  increase ; 
And  be  Victoria's  name  enrolled 
On  all  our  hearts — as  on  our  gold. 

Long  life  to  our  Queen! 
The  fairest  e'er  seen. 

And  death  to  her  foes, 

If  such  the  world  knows. 
May  a  spotless  renown 
Attend  on  her  Crown, 

And  her  glory  extend 

Ever,  world  without  end. 


92  Edward   Hodges 


It  was  November  4,  1835,  more  than  a  year  after 
the  severe  domestic  affliction  had  befallen  him,  that 
he  was  invited  to  dine  at  the  house  of  his  learned 
friend,  Dr.  Alfred  Day,  and  there  to  meet  an  Ameri- 
can gentleman,  the  Rev.  I.  O.  Choules. 

He  says  :  ''  The  evening  was  spent  very  agree- 
ably, principally  in  lively  gossip  about  American 
manners,  etc." 

My  Father's  life  then  flowed  on  in  its  numerous 
channels,  and  on  March  6  of  1836  he  again  met 
Mr.  Choules,  and  says  : 

**  We  talked  a  little  about  my  possible  emigration  to 
the  United  States.  Choules  said,  that  a  man's  sons  con- 
stituted Wealth  in  that  country." 

The  next  day,  according  to  promise,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Choules  visited  my  Father  in  his  cloister 
study  ;  and  the  reader  has  only  to  fancy  the  old- 
time  look  of  the  large  quaint  room,  with  its  artistic 
surroundings,  and  the  host's  genial,  pleasant  cor- 
diality,— that  freshness  of  youth  mingled  with  the 
*'  old  antiquary  "  suggestion  of  his  dress  and  style, 
— to  form  a  very  pleasant  picture.  His  own  words 
give  the  interview  best : 

"  I  worked  to-day  at  all  available  intervals  at  my  An- 
thems, but  actually  wrote  in  nothing. 

"  Mr.  Choules  called  by  appointment  about  noon,  and 
brought  his  wife  with  him.     We  now  had  a  little  discus- 


Last  Years  in  Bristol  93 


sion  on  the  topic  before  alluded  to,  and  he  asked  me,  with 
evident  seriousness,  whether,  if  a  good  offer  were  made  to 
me  in  America,  I  should  be  tempted  to  accept,  and  I  re- 
plied most  unhesitatingly  in  the  affirmative.  He  under- 
took to  bear  the  matter  in  mind,  and  said  '  very  probably 
I  should  receive  a  letter  upon  the  subject,  most  likely 
from  Dr.  Wainwright.' 

''  I  made  up  into  a  little  parcel,  ten  copies  of  my 
*  A-pology  for  Church  Music,'  for  Choules,  after  inscribing 
three  or  four  of  them  with  the  designations  of  certain  in- 
fluential and  musical  Clergymen,  whom  he  named,  inclu- 
ding Dr.  Wainwright  aforesaid.  Choules  was  begging 
books  for  a  College  Library  now  forming  in  the  State  of 
Maine,  and  I  gave  him  '  Hume's  Essay  '  and  an  anony- 
mous '  Commentary  on  the  Epistle  to  the  Colossians.' 
Had  we  not  been  in  such  a  hurry,  I  would  have  found 
him  many  more.  His  wife  was  particularly  friendly,  and 
both  of  them  seemed  much  pleased  with  my  old  habita- 
tion. They  remained  here  but  a  short  time,  and  took  a 
most  affectionate  leave.  I  believe  that  I  shook  hands 
with  Mrs.  C.  no  less  than  three  times  on  her  departure, 
viz.,  once  in  my  study,  (which  Mr.  C.  said  was  the  best 
study  and  most  to  his  liking  of  any  he  had  ever  anywhere 
seen),  once  below  stairs,  and  once  more  outside  the  house 
door." 

And  here  of  the  good  couple,  we  lose  sight. 
Even  this  little  characteristic,  I  might  say  natio7ial, 
friendliness  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Choules  may  have 
had  its  effect  on  my  Father  and  strengthened  his 
inclination  to  the  United  States,  although  he  did 
not  at  once  decide  to  leave  England. 

Time  again  passes  busily  on  with  my  Father,  until 


94  Edward   Hod^jes 


' '  November  2J,  i8j6. 

"  At  Smith's  shop  in  Terrell  Street,  I  heard  casually, 
that  Mr.  Gray,  of  London,  has  just  built  a  large  organ  for 
Boston,  America.  This  led  to  an  idea  that  possibly  the 
Bostonians  might  make  room  for  me  as  an  Organist,  and 
acting  upon  it,  I  wrote  a  letter  of  enquiry  to  Mr.  Gray 
about  it  after  my  return  home." 

Mr.  Gray  after  some  days  informed  my  Father 
that  Dr.  Wainwright  was  in  England,  and  this  re- 
sulted in  my  Father's  meeting  him  at  Portsmouth, 
where  two  or  three  conferences  were  held,  which 
my  Father  says  were  ''  satisfactory  "  ;  and  he  returns 
to  Bristol  in  the  ''  Celerity "  coach,  *'  which,"  he 
says,  ''  was  a  very  lazy  one." 

In  his  monthly  retrospect  my  Father  says  : 

**  I  have  little  doubt  but  that  I  shall  receive  a  call  to 
enter  upon  a  new  field  of  labour,  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Atlantic.  I  feel  that  I  begin  to  set  my  heart  upon  this 
as  the  intended  means  of  bringing  my  small  talent  into 
efficient  exercise." 

Another  month  passes,  and  in  pessimistic  vein 
perhaps,  he  writes  : 

*'  The  taste  of  the  age  is  carrying  music  into  egregious 
folly.  Everything  now  is  done  in  an  exaggerated  man- 
her.  All  old  principles  are  uprooted  and  thrown  aside. 
The  vagaries  of  the  Opera  are  to  be  brought  into  the 
Church.  All  system  is  to  be  exploded.  Discord  is  to  be 
exalted  above  concord,  order  and  method  are  to  be  ex- 
punged, and  our  devotional  melodies  are  to  be  constructed 


Last  Years  in  Bristol  95 


in  subservience  to  the  arch-demon  of  Reform.  Sink  or 
swin, — I  cannot,  I  will  not  submit.  If  I  continue  in  this 
my  native  country,  it  shall  be  one  of  my  constant  efforts 
to  try  to  stem  this  torrent  and  to  divert  the  public  taste 
into  the  channel  of  common  sense.  On  all  hands  it  is 
confessed,  that  ecclesiastical  music  will  not  pay,  and  in 
composition  I  am  doing  just  nothing  at  all. 

"  Even  now  a  winged  messenger  may  be  on  his  way 
across  the  mighty  deep  to  beckon  me  to  the  American 
shore.  There,  I  shall  start  in  a  new  scene,  with  new 
vigour,  new  views,  new  encouragement,  and  what  would 
be  newest  of  all,  every  prospect  of  benefitting  others  and 
reaping  a  comfortable  revenue  for  myself." 

Again  his  active  life  goes  on,  and  on  the  1 7th 
May,  my  Father  receives  a  letter  from  Dr.  Wain- 
wright,  which,  although  conveying  no  definite  ofTer, 
speaks  very  confidently  of  his  success  in  the  event 
of  his  resolving  to  cross  the  water.  He  refers  him 
for  further  information  to  a  Mr.  Mason,  by  whom 
he  (Dr.  W.)  had  sent  a  letter,  and  couples  an  invi- 
tation to  visit  Boston  with  the  offer  of  hospitality 
at  his  own  house.  Finally,  he  says  that  he  is  about 
to  get  up  some  of  my  Father's  music  at  his  own 
Church,  and  hopes  to  hear  from  him  soon  again. 

'  'May  24th. 

•*  On  this  day  the  Princess  Victoria,  Heiress  presump- 
tive to  the  Throne  of  these  realms,  became  of  Royal 
age  (eighteen  years),  and  bells  were  rung  in  Bristol,  but 
there  was  no  general  holiday. 

"  I  began  writing  to  Dr.  Wainwright  yesterday.  I 
wrote  to  Mr.  Lowell  Mason,  inviting  him  to  Bristol." 


96  Edward  Hodges 


And  in  his  closing  review  of  the  month,  he  says  : 

"  Two  flattering  letters  have  just  at  this  critical  period 
arrived  from  Dr.  Wainwright,  encouraging  my  idea  of 
Emigration  to  the  United  States.  I  have  since,  however, 
corresponded  with  his  friend,  Lowell  Mason,  now  in  Lon- 
don, who  does  not  appear  quite  so  sanguine  of  my  chance 
of  emolument  in  Boston  or  New  York  as  the  Doctor. 

"  America,  too,  happens  to  be  in  a  state  of  fearful  com- 
mercial embarrassment,  and  all  things  considered,  I  have 
resolved  to  postpone  for  a  time  the  project  of  expatria- 
tion and  to  try  once  more  to  effect  a  comfortable  settle- 
ment in  my  beloved  native  country." 

The  last  weeks  in  our  old  Cloister  home 
passed  in  a  kind  of  sad,  confused  dream,  as 
though  some  dreaded  event  impended.  Our  Father 
seemed  already  removed  from  us  in  purpose  and 
occupation — but  doubly  near  us  in  anxiety  and 
sympathy.  I  shall  never  forget  the  portending  look 
of  the  large  trunks  in  his  study  and  the  prepara- 
tions being  made  for  a  journey  to  Canada,  as  well 
as  a  voyage  to  New  York,  in  those  days  points  of 
tremendous  distance. 

That  which  I  remember  very  distinctly  was  his 
own  individual  character,  which  so  impressed  itself 
upon  me,  viz.  :  his  marvellously  strong  and  un- 
wavering purpose,  his  rapid,  nervous  action,  his 
suppression  of  every  feeling  that  might  have  caused 
himself  pain  or  encouraged  sorrow  in  us,  his  great 
influence  on  all  around  him  and  their  confidence  in 


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RESIDENCE  OF  DR.   HODGES  IN  THE  CLOISTERS,   BRISTOL. 


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Last  Years  in  Bristol  97 


his  strength  and  judgment  (for  many  friends  were 
there  to  carry  on  his  wishes  and  see  to  final  arrange- 
ments), and  the  courage  with  which  he  went  bravely 
working  on  and  cheering  us  by  his  spirit  and 
energy. 

The  last  day  came, — the  carriage  was  at  the  door, 
and  the  last  piece  of  luggage  put  upon  it. 

With  amazing  calmness  and  courage  he  sum- 
moned all  the  household  around  him  in  our  usual 
sitting  room.  He  took  his  seat  at  the  table  ;  behind 
him  above  the  mantel,  was  the  great  carved  shield 
which  had  on  it  these  words,  in  his  splendid  large 
writing  : 

"  Omnia    Vanitas" 

True  enough  it  was  of  worldly  things  ;  but  before 
him  lay  his  large  Bible,  which  he  opened  at  the 
46th  Psalm,  and  from  this  indeed  there  came  a  dif- 
ferent voice.  Silence  fell  on  us  all,  and  we  watched 
his  face  with  a  sense  of  awe,  as  he  proceeded  to 
read  in  firm  tones,  yet  with  evident  and  deep  emo- 
tion, the  Dens  Noster  Refngin77i,  the  old  Festeburg 
of  Luther.  Each  verse  of  this  noble  burst  of  sub- 
lime trust  of  the  Hebrew  Monarch  came  out  with 
a  power  unknown  to  us  before.  It  seemed  to  be 
pointing  out,  as  he  meant  it  to  be,  both  to  himself 
and  to  us  all,  in  this  sore  trial  and  for  all  our  lives, 
a  veritable  Refuge  and  Strength. 


98 


Edward  Hodges 


Many  a  cloud  have  I  passed  under  since  that 
day,  many  a  struggle  for  strength  has  been  gone 
through,  many  a  prayer  for  help  been  uttered, 
many  an  hour  have  I  endured  when  the  ''  chilling 
rain  "  made  ''  life  seem  never  the  same  again  "  ; 
but  the  deep  impression  of  that  scene  of  my  child- 
hood in  the  old  Cloister  home  can  never  fade  away  ; 
and  again  I  see  my  Father's  inspired  face,  as  in  his 
sorrow  and  great  trust  he  read  the  grand  words, 

^*  The  Lord  of  Hosts  is  with  us,  the  God  of  Jacob 

is  our  RefugeT 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


TEMPORA    MUTANTUR. 


IT  is  in  Bristol  in  the  fall  of  the  year  1838,  and 
the  Cathedral  service  is  just  over.  Two 
ladies,  who  have  come  in  late,  evidently  in  travel- 
ling costume,  and  have  enjoyed  the  service  from 
the  transept,  stand  awhile  listening  to  the  last 
"  Amen,"  lost  in  thought  in  the  significant  silence 
which  follows  it.  They  listen  also  to  the  Voluntary, 
and  then  follow  the  white-robed  procession  into  the 
cloisters.  They  seem  to  be  strangers,  yet  evi- 
dently acquainted  with  the  place.  They  pass  the 
Norman  pillars  before  the  Chapter  Room,  and  the 
Churchyard  gate  and  the  Bishop's  Palace  door,  and 
soon  stand  before  the  now  deserted  looking  Eliza- 
bethan house,  missing  from  the  central  door  the 
brass  plate  on  which  was  engraved  in  pretty  large 
letters.  Dr.  Hodges. 

They  ring,  and  they  knock  with  the  great,  old- 
fashioned,  circular,  black  knocker. 

No  answer. 

One  of  the  old  Cathedral  vergers,  seeing  them, 

99 


loo  Edward  Hodges 


comes  forward,  and  in  answer  to  their  questions,  in- 
forms them  that  the  Doctor  has  "gone  to  America, 
taking  with  him  his  oldest  boy,  '  Master  Handel '  ; 
that  the  two  daughters  are  up  at  Kingsdown,  at 
Miss  West's  school." 

*' And  the  litde  boys?" 

"  They  are  at  Dr.  Day's  vSchool,  Ma'am,  and  the 
very  little  one  is  well  cared  for  until  he  is  old 
enouo^h  to  2:0  there  too." 

The  pleasant,  English  face  of  the  honest  old  ver-^ 
ger  lighted  up  as  he  went  on. 

"  A  sore  loss  to  us  all.  Ma'am,  is  the  Doctor, 
It  don't  seem  right  that  he  had  to  leave  us.  He 
was  always  right  pleasant,  and  had  a  cheery  word 
and  a  joke  for  us  always  ;  and  many  's  the  good 
kind  deeds  he  did  when  he  heard  any  one  was  in 
trouble.  He  would  take  long  walks  and  put  him- 
self out  to  help  them.  There  was  nights,  Ma'am, 
when  the  cloisters  seemed  full  of  music,  such 
grand  singing !  and  all  from  his  study  window  up 
yonder.  There  was  one  kind  of  music  he  did  not 
like  himself,  and  that  was  the  old  orga^i  grinders  ; 
and  as  sure  as  ever  they  got  themselves  and  their 
monkeys  inside  the  gates  and  begun  grinding  their 
old  hurdy-gurdy,  out  would  come  some  one  from 
the  Doctor's  with  a  sixpence  for  them  to  '  be  off.' 
Ah  !  we  've  had  a  loss,  and  Bristol  too  ;  for  every 


Tempora  Mutantur  loi 


one  seemed  to  know  him,  and  a  kindlier  gentleman 
never  walked  the  streets  o'  Bristol.  And  the  schol- 
ars, too,  was  after  him  ;  but  't  was  not  for  that  he 
was  so  much  thought  of. 

''  I  used  to  think  myself,  Ma'am,  that  he  had 
some  trouble  on  his  mind  at  times,  as  he  would 
walk  to  and  fro,  up  and  down,  in  the  cloisters  there 
oftentimes  till  after  nightfall.  Maybe  he  was  think- 
ing his  music.  We  all  knew  that  he  was  a  great 
musician  and  the  music  we  heard  from  that  window 
up  there  was  his  own  writing  out.  Yes,  't  is  a  big 
loss  for  us  all.  The  cloisters  don't  seem  the  same 
without  him,  and  Mr.  Handel  too  !  As  full  of 
mischief  as  ever  a  boy  was,  was  he  !  I  mind  the 
time  when  he  and  other  boys  with  him  clambered 
the  high  wall  and  was  over  in  a  jiffy  into  the 
Bishop's  garden,  and  there  they  was  robbing  the  pear 
tree  like  fun.  '  Old  Phillips  '  got  wind  of  it  and 
went  quick  to  the  garden,  as  those  was  his  favour- 
ite pears — and  was  just  in  time  to  catch  one  boy  up 
the  tree;  but  Mr.  Handel — nobody  could  ever 
catch  him  !  He  made  for  the  old  ruins,  and  there 
he  hid  away;  and  old  Phillips  came  along  to  the 
cloisters  with  one  big  boy  by  the  collar,  and  poor 
little  Mr.  Jubal  who  was  crying  for  fright  about  his 
brother.  He  was  too  gentle  and  too  little  to  have 
gone  in  with  these  boys.    Mr.  Handel,  he  came  in  as 


I02  Edward   Hodges 


right  as  could  be,  with  the  pears  in  his  pocket,  and 
the  big  boy  got  out  of  the  window  where  he  was 
shut  up  in  PhiUips'  house,  and  made  off  fast  on  his 
legs. 

"A  mighty  mischievous  boy  was  Mr.  Handel, 
and  beautiful  too,  and  how  he  did  sing  !  that  voice 
of  his  !  no  matter  if  the  Doctor  had  a  hundred 
singers,  Mr.  Handel's  voice  would  clear  them  all  ; 
so  sweet  and  strong  it  was. 

*'  The  Doctor  had  some  sad  times  here  too, 
Ma'am.  He  'most  broke  his  heart  for  his  little 
Deborah,  when  she  died,  and  was  carried  from  here 
to  St.  Maryport  Churchyard.  There  was  another 
too,  but  she  was  but  a  little  baby  when  she  died, 
and  did  not  know  him,  and  trot  after  him  as  Debo- 
rah did.  Her  name  was  Cecilia.  Deborah  never 
minded  what  he  did  to  her.  When  she  heard  his 
knock  and  ring,  she  would  run  to  the  door,  and  he 
would  tuck  her  up  like  a  bundle  under  his  arm,  and 
carry  her  along,  she  laughing  like  everything. 

'*  And  it  is  but  like  as  tho'  yesterday  that  the 
Cathedral  bell  was  tolled  for  Mrs.  Hodges  ;  a  lovely 
lady  was  she,  and  so  young  to  go,  and  leave  her 
family,  and  the  little  weeny  boy  but  a  month  old  ! 
'T  was  a  sad  October  day  that !  The  black  coaches 
and  the  hearse  was  a  sorrowful  sight  to  see  in  the 
cloisters,  and   sadder  yet  to  see  the  poor  Doctor 


Tempora  Mutantur  103 


and  his  three  boys  all  in  the  long  black  cloaks  and 
hat-bands.     That  is  just  three  years  since. 

"  Mrs.  Hodges  was  a  wonderful  singer  too,  and 
before  her  illness  came  on,  her  voice  went  clear 
and  strong  over  all  the  rest,  just  as  Mr.  Handel's 
did  after  her. 

**  He  was  a  wonderful  boy  at  the  organ  too,  and 
has,  for  now  eighteen  months  past,  helped  the  Doc- 
tor when  Mr.  Crook  went  to  St.  Michael's  ;  and 
small  as  he  is,  there  he  would  sit  at  the  big  organ 
at  St.  James',  or  at  St.  Nicholas',  and  go  right 
through  the  service.  Well,  Ma'am,  I  must  spare 
telling  you  more,  but  we  've  all  had  a  great  loss. 
Every  one  who  knew  the  Doctor  loved  him.  There 
never  was  a  poor  person  he  knew  wanted,  but  in 
many  ways,  not  only  in  money,  he  would  try  to 
help  him.  I  have  known  him  have  to  borrow  a 
little  at  Church  if  he  had  seen  some  one  suffering, 
when  he  gave  all  the  change  he  had.  They  '11  get 
a  good  man  and  a  great  musician  too  over  the  sea 
in  New  York,  and  we  have  lost  him  ;  but  we  can't 
forget  him  here  at  home." 

The  verger  left  and  the  ladies  gave  a  parting  look 
at  the  walled-in  Norman  arch  at  the  end  of  the 
house,  above  which  were  bunches  of  snap-dragons 
and  wall-fiowers  growing,  and  the  tendrils  of  a  vine 
hanging   down.      Then    they    passed    the    cloister 


I04  Edward  Hodo^es 


^5 


gates,  and  turning  down  the  ''  Lower  Green,"  sur- 
veyed the  perfect  Norman  arch,  built  over  with 
stuccoed  houses. 

*'  This  must  have  been  one  great  entrance  to  the 
Monastery  ;  and  this  was  the  way  to  the  Bishop's 
Garden,  south  of  the  Doctor's  premises." 

They  found  their  way  in  ;  and  saw  the  ruins  of 
the  Bishop's  Palace,  which  ran  out  in  a  southerly 
direction,  dividing  the  large  garden.  **  I  do  not 
wonder  Dr.  Hodges  chose  this  old  place,"  said  one, 
*'  it  has  a  charm  of  its  own." 

*'Just  see  those  immense  walls!  The  Doctor 
told  me  that  some  in  /it's  house  are  three  feet 
thick,  and  that  both  the  Palace  and  his  house  are 
built  on  a  Norman  substructure  of  low  arches,  such 
as  you  see  in  crypts.  Just  see  that  lovely  Gothic 
window  of  the  palace,  and  how  the  kind  ivy  has 
draped  it !  They  say  the  eastern  side  is  lovely 
with  terraced  gardens  and  steps,  and  up  to  the  left, 
the  really  fine  south-eastern  end  of  the  Cathedral 
in  full  view  !  No  doubt  these  houses  were  built 
over  the  destroyed  Monastery,  when  Henry  VHI. 
converted  Bristol  into  a  See." 

They  hurried  out,  and  turned  up  to  the  ''  Prior's 
Lodge,"  where  they  stood  admiring  that  interesting 
and  picturesque  dwelling. 

*'  TAzs  was  Dr.  Hodges'  poetic  dream  of  a  house  ! 
Every  stone  of  it  speaks  of  him.     Gothic  window, 


1 ,'    ',•> 


>      ■)   •> 
■>  •>     ■> 


V^l 


■>■>•> 

■)     ■> 


■>    1 
■>■>■> 


5     3.      ■>■>■> 

■>    t\  •>   ■>    ^ 


t  ■)  y  -> 


^        ?     '      '        i    >    >       - 


l.^ 


< 


< 

2 


> 


z 


^ 
z 


re 

<    t 

r   r    r 


r   '< 


r    r 


,c  r    , 

t    f    f 

«       6     ' 


<   C    c    C  f   r 


Tempora  Mutantur  lO; 


music-room,  study  window,  do  you  see  how  beau- 
tiful it  is  ?  And  the  ivy-hidden  one  above  ?  and 
his  garden  and  trees  ?  Then,  what  a  very  unique 
and  unlike-othe7^-people  look  and  way  he  had  with 
him  !  Oh,  it  is  all  charming  !  As  if  he  belonged 
to  just  such  a  place  !  So  close  to  this  grand  Arch, 
too,  'The  Monastery  Gateway'  and  the  Cathedral 
Tower  behind  !  Hark,  there  is  the  Quarter-bell  ! 
Let  us  wander  round  and  close  our  ramblings  in 
the  Abbey  Church,  thankful  that  amid  the  destruc- 
tion that  fell  on  so  many  magnificent  Christian 
Churches  in  this  our  little  island,  ours  was  at  least 
partially  spared.  Perhaps  the  former  Nave  reached 
to  this  very  spot  !  " 

Then  they  went  into  the  Cloister  again  and  en- 
tered as  the  bell  struck  the  ''  ninth  hour — the  hour 
of  pra^^er."  Mutilated  as  was  the  Cathedral,  it  was 
still  solemn  and  imposing.  The  sweet  organ-tones 
of  the  Stopped  Diapason  were  penetrating  and 
almost  singing  as  the  procession  passed  in.  The 
matchless  service  went  on,  with  its  plaintive  mono- 
tone, and  sweet  harmonies  of  the  preces  and  ver- 
sicles.  Then  came  the  Psalms,  that  unequalled 
part  of  the  service  in  the  hands  of  this  Organist, 
the  true  antiphon  of  the  melodious  double  chant, 
floating  and  echoing  away  ;  the  taste  and  fancy  of 
the  player  all  called  out  as  he  varied  from  swell 
and  solo,  choir  and  pedals,  according  to  the  words  ; 


io6  Edward  Hodges 


all  the  voices  of  song  blending  in  one  fascinating 
whole.  There  was  no  set  Service  sung,  nor  was  the 
Anthem  in  any  way  remarkable  ;  and  when  the 
beautiful  evening  prayers  were  said,  and  the  last 
**  Amen  "  sung,  our  two  friends  went  out,  the  very 
last  of  the  congregation,  at  the  northern  door  into 
the  Green,  and  the  verger  locked  it  after  them. 

The  foregoing  is  partly  imaginary,  partly  fact, 
indeed,  all  fact  with  imaginary  speakers. 

The  Bishop's  Palace  was  burnt  at  the  Bristol 
Riots  in  October,  183 1,  and  has  never  been  re-built. 

The  Cathedral  has  a  mural  tablet  to  the  mem- 
ory of  William  Phillips,  the  subsacrist,  for  his 
bravery  in  defending  the  Cathedral  door  against 
the  rioters. 

The  interest  and  knowledge  of  our  family  shown 
by  the  verger  are  not  at  all  out  of  the  common. 
The  men  belonging  to  a  Cathedral  remain  long 
there,  and  become  attached  to  those  living  in  the 
precincts.  As  children,  the  good  old  men  were 
like  friends  to  us.  We  used  to  love  to  go  in  when 
they  opened  the  Cathedral  to  ring  the  quarter-bells. 
Their  gowns,  and  kind  old  faces,  and  attitudes,  as 
with  one  foot  in  the  noose,  they  pulled  regularly  at 
the  ropes,  all  were  fascinating.  We  always  went 
back  to  our  house  when  the  ''  College  boys  "  (and 
hour  of  service)  approached. 


CHAPTER    IX. 


EARLY    DAYS    IN    AMERICA. 


MY  Father  was  accompanied  to  America  by 
his  eldest  and  briUiant  son,  George  F. 
Handel,  without  whom  it  does  not  seem  possible 
that  he  could  have  gone.  On  their  journey  to 
Liverpool  they  were  met  at  a  Midland  station  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Havergal  and  his  daughter,  Miriam, 
for  a  few  parting  words,  Miriam  bringing  my 
Father  a  beautiful  bunch  of  flowers. 

They  sailed  on  the  New  York  Packet  SheridaUy 
leaving  Liverpool  early  in  August,  and  arriving  in 
New  York,  on  their  way  to  Canada,  early  in  Sep- 
tember. My  Father  had  received  the  appointment 
of  Organist  to  the  Cathedral  of  St.  James  at 
Toronto,  but  on  his  arrival  there  he  found  the  city 
in  so  disturbed  a  state  that  he  was  obliged  to  give 
up  the  idea  of  remaining  there,  and  accepted  the 
call  to  Trinity  Church,  New  York. 

On  the  voyage  my  Father  gave  way  to  the  usual 

cheerfulness   of   his   disposition   which,  when   with 

107 


io8  Edward  Hodges 


others,  never  forsook  him.  His  readiness  of  wit, 
his  marvellous  power  of  adaptation  to  circum- 
stances, his  quick  sympathies  and  happy  sociality, 
no  doubt  here  had  free  play.  He  never  regarded 
any  one  as  a  stranger.  Behind  every  human  face 
he  knew  there  was  a  human  heart  ;  and  he  had  a 
larger  one  himself  than  most.  The  benignant  glad- 
ness of  his  spirit  was  always  ready  to  enliven  a 
passing  social  hour ;  and  the  following  verse  shows 
a  vein  of  fun  coursing  through  his  mental  structure, 
one  which  was  never  ascetic  or  austere  : 

**  Said  Maurice  to  Daniel  one  day  after  dinner, 

*  How  strangely  you  lick  up  your  wine,  you  old  sinner; 
Every  minute  you  're  lifting  your  glass  from  the  table, 
Repeating  potations  as  fast  as  you  're  able.' 

*  I  do  no  such  thing,'  replied  Dan  in  a  passion  ; 

*  De'il  take  me  if  ever  I  swallow  that  fashion.' 

'  Avast  with   your  rage,'   then   cried    Maurice   to  merry 

Dan, 
No  longer  swig  claret,  but  always  drink  sherry,  Dan  ! '  " 

The  following  extracts  from  the  graphic  and 
affectionate  letters  of  my  brother,  George  F.  Han- 
del, to  his  sisters,  written  in  all  the  natural  fresh- 
ness of  boyhood  and  under  the  exhilaration  of  new 
scenes  in  a  new  country,  throw  light  on  my  Father  s 
life  at  that  time.  Much  that  shows  the  versatility 
of  my  brother's  character  has  to  be  omitted  ;  but 
the  one  vein  running  through  them  all  is  his  intense 


Early  Days  in  America  109 


and  thorough-going  devotion  to  his  father.  He 
was  one  with  him  in  his  position,  his  feeHngs,  his 
progress,  and  his  prospects  ;  entering  into  his  life 
with  an  admiration  and  reverence  for  his  person, 
as  rare  as  it  was  beautiful,  and  united  to  a  feeling 
of  almost  brotherly  sympathy. 

Amid  the  deprivations  and  difficulties  which  my 
Father  encountered  during  these  early  years  of  his 
life  in  New  York,  the  companionship  and  musical 
intelligence  of  this  loving  son  must  have  been  an 
inexpressible  comfort  to  him.  The  sunshine  of  his 
presence  and  his  numerous  talents,  especially  for 
the  organ,  will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  I  have  lis- 
tened to  warm  mention  of  them  as  late  as  1894.  A 
beautiful  painting  of  his  yet  more  beautiful  face,  by 
Stephen  Hague,  grandson  of  a  former  Professor  of 
Cambridge,  is  still  preserved. 

The  first  glimpse  we  catch  of  my  Father  and 
brother  in  the  New  World  is  in  a  letter  dated 

'"''Toronto,  Canada^  Sept.  24,  i8j8. 

"  We  sent  on  our  heavy  baggage  to  Toronto,  and  fol- 
lowed ourselves,  on  the  loth,  for  Albany,  151  miles,  at 
seven  in  the  morning.     Got  there  at  6  P.M. 

"The  steamer,  that  we  came  in  is  a  nasty,  ricketty  old 
thing,  ten  years  old.  She  has  four  chimneys  and  four 
boilers,  with  two  engines  on  deck  ;  (as  all  the  Yankee 
steamers  have.)     We  slept  at  Albany  and  proceeded  for 


no  Edward   Hodges 


Utica  at  eight  next  morning  by  the  Railroad.  You  never 
saw  such  a  wilderness  as  it  runs  through  !  We  had  in 
our  train  twenty-one  coaches  besides  the  baggage  cars,  all 
crammed  with  passengers,  the  longest  train  they  ever 
had. 

'*  In  consequence  of  the  length  and  having  only  one 
engine,  we  did  not  get  to  Utica  till  three  hours  after  the 
time. 

"  It  is  ninety-six  miles  from  Albany  and  we  were  eight 
hours  doing  it. 

**  We  took  a  Canal  Boat  (a  line  boat, — the  packet  boats 
were  all  full)  immediately  ;  but  they  had  more  than  forty 
passengers.  We  were  obliged  to  have  each  meal  three 
times  (served),  the  cabin  was  so  small  ;  also  we  were 
obliged  to  sleep  in  the  Baggage  Room  on  the  baggage. 

''Arrived  at  Syracuse  at  6  P.M.,  Sep.  12.  308  miles 
from  New  York.  Slept  at  the  Hotel ;  took  our  place  in  a 
Packet  Boat  (not  a  steam  packet)  for  Oswego,  sixty  miles. 
The  Boat  was  to  start  at  10  A.M.  but  did  not  till  3  P.M. 
We  were  in  a  delightful  state  of  suspension,  but  not  at  all 
impatient,  as  you  may  imagine.  Arrived  at  Oswego  at 
one  in  the  morning.  Slept  till  five  o'clock  with  our 
clothes  on,  and  then  we  turned  out  to  look  for  a  steamer 
for  Toronto,  but  were  disappointed.  So  we  took  places 
for  Kingston  in  the  Great  Britain  Steamer  (English 
colours  once  more)  and  got  there  at  one,  having  started 
at  eight,  dj  miles.  I  should  imagine  myself  on  the  Atlantic 
for  all  that  I  could  see.  There  was  no  steamer  for  To- 
ronto till  midnight,  so  we  went  on  board  to  bed  at  10 
o'clock.  At  2  P.M.,  we  started  for  Toronto  and  arrived 
there  safely  at  Z\  P.M.  Sep.  15. 

'*  Papa  left  me  on  board  while  he  went  to  look  for  the 
Archdeacon,  got  to  the  *  North  American  Hotel'  where 
we  still  are;  but  I  must  tell  you  more  in  my  next.  I 
have  to  pay  (at  least  my  father  has)   i/ioj  d.  on  each 


Early  Days  in  America  iii 


letter,  so  Papa  says,  I  must  not  write  too  many.  Most 
likely  I  shall  get  into  the  '  Iron  and  General  Hardware 
Business.'  The  Archdeacon  has  called  two  or  three  times 
about  it.     But  Messrs.  Ridout  Brs.  &  Co.  were  out." 

''New  York,  Nov.  loth,  1838. 

''  You  will  no  doubt  be  surprised  when  you  see  where 
we  are,  but  not  when  I  tell  you  the  reason.  The  times 
were  so  bad,  business  so  dull,  everything  so  stagnant  in 
the  way  of  work,  that  Papa  made  up  his  mind  not  to  stay 
any  longer. 

"  We  accordingly  left  in  the  Steamer  William  IV  at 
12  o'clock  on  Saturday  morning,  purposing  to  go  to  Os- 
wego, but  it  was  so  rough  we  were  obliged  to  put  into 
Kingston  on  Sunday  morning.  We  staid  there  till  Mon- 
day morning,  5  o'clock,  when  we  got  on  board  the 
United  States. 

"  Arrived  at  Oswego  in  the  afternoon,  slept  there,  and 
proceeded  next  morning  by  Canal  Boat  to  Utica,  got 
there  Wednesday  morning  at  8,  took  the  nine  o'clock 
train  for  Albany  and  got  there  at  four  the  same  after- 
noon. From  Albany  we  came  to  New  York  in  the 
Steamer  North  America  and  safely  landed  in  New  York 
once  more  at  6  o'clock  Thursday  morning. 

'*  The  same  morning,  Papa  found  me  a  place  as  one  of 
the  clerks  to  John  Delafield,  Esq.,  who  is  about  to  estab- 
lish a  new  Banking  Company  in  New  York.  I  sleep  and 
board  at  his  house. 

**  I  must  now  tell  you  about  Canada,  which  is  again  in 
trouble.  The  Rebellion  broke  out  the  day  we  left,  so  we 
got  out  c^  it  in  time.  The  Government  have  chartered 
two  steamboats,  the  Traveller  and  Queen  Victoria  and 
have  ordered  the  EngHsh  steam  boats  not  to  touch 
at  any  American  Ports  on  the  Lake.  Two  of  the  State 
prisoners  broke  out  of  jail  at   Montreal,  and  have  since 


112  Edward   Hodges 


returned  with  about  2,000  rebels.  One  day  in  Toronto  a 
gentleman  lent  me  his  horse,  and  I  rode  three  or  four 
miles  up  George  St.  and  saw  the  place  where  the  battle 
of  Montgomeries'  Hill  was  fought  last  winter.  There  are 
all  the  ruins  of  houses  burnt  down  by  the  rebels  there 
yet,  and  it  looks  like  a  wilderness.  It  seemed  to  me  just 
like  leaving  home  again  coming  away  from  Toronto ;  I 
had  got  acquainted  with  so  many  people  there.  There  is 
a  great  difference  in  the  style  of  beauty  here  and  in 
Toronto.  Here  the  ladies  screw  up  their  waists  to  almost 
nothing. 

"  The  winter  had  begun  in  Canada  before  we  left. 
Snow  was  three  or  four  inches  on  the  ground,  and  ice 
was  thick.  When  we  got  to  New  York  it  was  raining 
and  the  weather  was  too  warm  for  a  great  coat  ;  while  in 
Canada  we  were  glad  to  put  on  two  or  three,  or  else  sit 
by  the  stove.  New  York  in  one  respect  looks  more 
like  England  than  Canada  does,  viz.,  in  the  burning  of 
coal  instead  of  wood.  We  did  not  see  one  coal  fire  while 
in  Canada. 

''  The  steamboats  are  very  safe  about  New  York,  but 
down  in  Mississippi  they  blow  them  up  '  like  everything/ 
A  steamer  will  not  last  more  than  a  twelve-month,  and 
then  it  is  either  blown  up  by  accident  {par  accident  tou- 
joiirs)  or  wrecked  going  down  that  immense  river.  Ad- 
dress your  letter  to  me  or  to  Papa  at  Dr.  Wainwright's, 
to  whose  house  Papa  has  removed." 

My  Father  was  made  Director  of  the  Music  of 
Trinity  Parish  In  February,  1839. 

' '  February  22ndy  i8jg. 

"  I  go  to  St.  John's  Church  in  St.  John's  Park,  or  Hud- 
son Square.  I  go  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Delafield,  but  do 
not  sit  in  their  pew  since  Papa  has  been  organist." 


Early  Days  in  America  113 


The  following  letters  give  us  an  Insight  into  my 
Father's  earliest  work  in  Trinity  Parish  : 

''  April  lyth,  iSjg. 

**  One  choir  consists  of  six  paid  persons  and  one  super- 
numerary, G.  F.  H.  Hodges,  by  name,  I  generally  being 
an  attendant  in  the  organ  gallery,  in  which  Dr.  Hodges 
presides.  Our  music  is  very  good,  and,  with  a  little  more 
practice,  will  get  better.  We  sing  a  '  Te  Deum  '  and  '  Ju- 
bilate '  every  Sunday,  and  that  is  more  than  you  do  in 
your  churches  ;  also,  there  is  '  playing  in  '  and  *  playing 
out ' ;  and  some  bad  boys  and  girls  on  each  side  of  the 
organ  play  all  through  the  service.  The  first  Sunday,  we 
sang  '  E.  H.  in  F,'  the  second  Sunday,  *  Boyce  in  C,' 
and  the  third  and  fourth, '  Hodges  in  F  '  again.  (This  is  a 
great  favourite  this  side  of  the  water.)     We  have  sung 

*  Jackson  in  E  '  twice,  and  '  Boyce  in  C '  again.  This 
Service  is  considered  rather  heavy  and  does  not  go  down 
very  well,  although  we  sing  it  as  well  as  any  other.  On 
Palm  Sunday,  we  sang  the  '  Benedicite  '  to  a  chaunt, — 
Easter  Sunday,  *  playing  in  '  full  organ  :  '  Christ  our  Pass- 
over '  to  a  chaunt  of  Battishill,  '  Gloria  Patri '  after  last 
Psalm,  '  Te  Deum,'  'Boyce  in  A,'  (not  liked  so  well  as 

*  E.  H.  in  F  '  or  '  Jackson  in  E  ')  '  Jubilate  '  Do.  Easter 
Hymn  to  Dr.  Worgan's  Tune,  and  before  sermon  a  Psalm 
(metrical)  to  Papa's  tune  '  Benevolence.'  Before  the 
Communion,  an  anthem  ;  Recitative  Bass,  Quartet  and 
Chorus,  by  Jas.  Corfe  (requested  by  Dr.  Wainwright). 

*■'  Next  Sunday,  Papa's  Service  in  C,  a  great  favourite, 
and  next  '  Boyce  in  A  *  again.  This  is  for  the  twelfth  time 
of  asking.  If  any  of  you  know  just  cause  or  impediment 
that  side  of  the  water,  why  Dr.  Hodges  and  his  choir 
should  not  sing  '  Te  Deum,'  etc.,  etc.,  on  this  side  of 
the  water,  as  well  (if  not  better)  than  you  do  on  that 
side  of  the   water,  ye  are  all    herewith   and    hereby,   in- 


114  Edward  Hodo^es 


^5 


vited   to  come  to  this  side   of    the   water  and   hear   for 
yourselves. 

"  I  remain  your  affectionate  brother, 

''  George  F.  H.  H., 
*'  on  this  side  of  the  pool." 

' '  June  8th. 

"  This  week  has  been  an  important  week  in  relation  to 
our  music,  but  Papa  will,  I  doubt  not,  write  to  some  one 
and  tell  it  better  than  I  can,  as  he  knows  more  of  it.  We 
are  restricted  to  two  stops,  all  the  rest  being  too  loud. 

'*  I  played  this  afternoon,  as  Papa  was  too  unwell  and 
too  melancholy  to  come  to  church  and  be  tied  down  to 
such  narrow  compass. 

'*  I  only  used  two  stops  at  the  same  time,  and  they  only 
in  the  Choir  or  Swell ;  and  only  one  stop  when  I  played 
on  the  Great  Organ.  Papa  will  no  doubt  give  you  some 
of  the  news.  He  has  written  to  Thos.  Crook.  We  hope 
he  gets  on  well  at  Clifton  Church  and  St.  James." 

"  Sept.  ijth. 

**  My  business  at  the  Bank  goes  on  very  briskly,  I  like 
it  very  well.  I  get  through  there  by  4^  to  5  o'clock. 
Then  I  generally  go  and  see  Papa ;  and  if  he  is  at  home, 
I  sit  a  little  while  with  him,  and  if  we  feel  inclined,  we 
play  a  game  of  chess.  If  he  is  out  or  busy,  I  go  to  Mr. 
Delafield's  house  in  town  and  practice  on  the  Piano. 
Sometimes  I  get  up  at  six  in  the  morning  and  go  and 
practice  there. 

"  To-morrow  I  move  to  No.  70  Franklin  St.  and  Papa 
moves  in  a  day  or  two  afterwards  to  the  same  house.  He 
will  have  a  larger  room  and  will  have  his  Piano.  I  suppose 
I  shall  not  practice  much  on  it  except  when  he  goes  out, 
and  then  I  shall  get  down  there  and  practice  away  '  like 
everything,'  as  they  say  sometimes  in  New  York.     I  wish 


Early  Days  in  America  115 


you  would  give  me  some  news  of  the  Cloisters  ;  whether 
they  are  going  to  re-build  the  Bishop's  Palace. 

''  I  have  played  for  Papa  several  times  at  church. 

"  I  saw  the  British  Qiceen  and  the  Great  Western 
both  together  the  last  time  the  former  was  here.  The 
British  Queen  is  a  great  deal  the  largest,  but  I  do  not 
think  she  is  near  so  good  a  model   as  the  Great  Western 

''  Papa  has  gone  into  the  State  of  New  Jersey  with  a 
gentleman  to  spend  the  day.  To-morrow,  I  believe  he 
goes  to  Boston  to  meet  Dr.  Wainwright.  The  ladies  screw 
in  their  waists  and  dress  most  extravagantly.  There  is 
no  city  where  they  pay  more  attention  to  dress  than  New 
York,  except  perhaps  New  Orleans." 

''March  12th,  1840. 

''My  Dearest  Faustina: 

"  It  was  with  great  pleasure  that  on  last  Saturday,  I 
heard  that  the  Great  Western  was  telegraphed  at  eleven 
o'clock  as  being  in  the  Lower  Bay. 

"At  12  o'clock,  I  ran  round  to  the  Battery,  and  was 
just  in  time,  for  she  was  about  half  a  mile  off  when  I  got 
there ;  and,  although  she  had  only  been  telegraphed  an 
hour,  yet  the  Battery  was  thronged  with  persons  to  wit- 
ness her  arrival.  It  was  blowing  a  perfect  hurricane  at 
the  time  ;  the  water  was  at  its  height,  and  it  looked  like 
a  little  sea.  The  waves  beat  on  the  Wall  of  Walks,  so 
that  no  one  could  go  nearer  than  about  twelve  feet  from 
the  edge.  There  were  two  sloops  at  anchor,  and  beating 
against  the  wall,  but  we  did  not  look  at  them.  All  eyes 
were  directed  towards  the  magnificent  steamer  bowling 
up,  end  on,  with  all  flags  hoisted,  and  leaning  gently  over 
to  the  wind,  every  now  and  then  firing  a  big  gun.  When 
she  got  up  to  the  Battery,  she  stopped  her  paddles,  and 
gently  glided  up  the  East  River  to  her  dock,  foot  of 
Clinton  Street.  I  almost  shed  tears  at  the  sight,  and  I 
believe  that  if  any  one  had  hullo'd  (softly !)  in  my  ear  at 


ii6  Edward  Hodges 


the  time  I  should  not  have  heard  it,  so  intent  was  I  on 
the  ship  in  question.  I  thought  to  myself,  *  what  news 
does  she  bring?  Good  or  bad  ;  forty-two  days  later  from 
England  !  A  great  deal  of  good  or  evil  might  have  hap- 
pened in  that  time,  almost  four  months  since  I  have  heard 
from  my  dear  Brothers  and  Sisters.'  Such  were  my 
thoughts  at  sight  of  the  Great  Western'' 

''March  izih. 

"  Papa  and  I  play  chess  very  often  of  an  evening,  but 
he  beats  me  rather  shamefully,  though  he  has  a  great  deal 
more  trouble,  as  I  do  sometimes  get  a  game  now  with  all 
the  pieces  on.  And  at  home  he  could  beat  me  with  a 
Queen  and  two  Castles  off." 

''May  sth. 

"  Our  new  organ  at  St.  John's  Church  is  almost  fin- 
ished, and  the  people  are  much  pleased,  delighted, 
charmed  and  edified  with  it.  Papa  is  quite  well,  though 
he  was  very  ill  for  two  or  three  days,  about  three  weeks 
ago.  I  am  sending  a  Commercial  Advertiser,  It  contains 
a  paragraph  referring  to  one  of  us !  Papa  has  been  play- 
ing over  some  of  his  old  favorites,  J.  S.  Bach's  '  Fugues,' 
and  is  now  gone  out  for  a  little  while." 

"  We  have  a  very  pretty  little  Tortoise  shell  kitten, 
which  occupies  a  great  deal  of  my  spare  time  after  tea. 
She  is  the^^^r^.y/  little  cat  I  ever  saw,  not  excepting  your 
old  tom  (can't  even  afford  a  capital  t).  This  evening  Papa 
and  I  have  been  playing  chess,  and  talking  over  the  news 
by  the  President^  and  I  put  the  little  cat  into  the  chess 
box,  where  she  staid  very  good  and  quiet  for  two  hours 
and  a  half,  without  attempting  to  get  out.  Sometimes 
she  would  put  her  little  head  out  over  the  top  and  look 
at  our  men.  When  we  called  *  check  '  she  would  start ; 
but  the  greater  part  of  the  time  she  was  snuggled  down 
to  sleep.  She  just  filled  Papa's  old  chess  box ;  at  all 
events,  he  never  had  a  larger  animal  in  it." 


Early  Days  in  America  117 


''May  7th. 

"  Last  Sunday  I  played  at  St.  Paul's  Church,  morning 
and  afternoon.  This  is  my  first  appearance  in  this  quar- 
ter. The  late  organist  has  left,  and  as  some  of  the  Music 
Committee  are  out  of  town,  Papa  sends  me  to  play  until 
they  make  an  appointment.  It  is  not  by  any  means  a 
fine  organ,  except  as  regards  the  tone  of  some  of  the 
stops.  There  are  no  Pedal  pipes.  Papa  has  a  very  fine 
one  at  St.  John's  Church,  which  will  be  completed  in 
about  a  fortnight.  It  is  certainly  a  very  fine  instrument, 
and  will  be  the  best  in  the  city,  probably  in  the  country." 

''New    York,  June  21st, 

"  I  am  at  present  Deputy  Organist,  under  Papa,  of  St. 
Paul's  Church.  This  morning  (Sunday)  I  proceeded  at 
10  o'clock  precisely  out  of  the  front  door  and  was  on  my 
way  to  St.  Paul  s,  which  I  reached  in  safety,  and  began 
playing  the  Parson  and  persons  in  at  loi,  our  old  St. 
James'  time,  you  see  !  (U.  C  !)  There  is  a  pretty  good 
choir  and  we  get  along  pretty  well  ;  only  since  the  first 
week  in  May  have  I  played  there.  The  organ  is  no  great 
shakes,  though  I  make  some  great  shakes  upon  it  occa- 
sionally. It  is  an  old  one  built  by  G.  P.  England,  Lon- 
don. There  are  no  pedals,  and  each  rank  of  keys  is 
separate  and  distinct  from  the  other,  and  incapable  of 
coupling  or  combining. 

"  Papa  has  just  sounded  his  call  for  me  on  the  piano. 
So  I  leave  this  *  till  a  more  convenient  season. '  " 

"New    York,  N'ov.  joth. 

"  I  sent  you  a  newspaper  called  the  Albion  by  the  Presi- 
dent, S.  S.  It  contains  a  favourable  mention  of  Papa, 
which  I  dare  say  you  have  discovered.  I  bought  ever  so 
many,  and  sent  them  to  different  friends  in  England,  and 
in  this  country.  Papa  played  the  organ  at  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wood's  first  Sacred  Concert,  which  I  think  was  the  cause 
of  the  article. 


ii8  Edward   Hodges 


*' We  had  an  exhibition  of  the  organ  at  St.  John's,  of 
which  I  will  talk  in  Miriam's  letter. 

"  I  still  play  at  St.  Paul's  Church.  Papa  told  me  at 
dinner  that  he  had  heard  my  playing  on  Sunday  evening 
spoken  highly  of.  Hurrah!  I  cannot  write  more  as  I 
want  to  practice  on  my  piano.     Good-night  !  " 

''Dec.  I  St. 

"  My  Dearest  Miriam  : 

"  Last  Friday  evening,  we  had  virtually,  a  Sacred  Con- 
cert ;  though  nominally,  an  Exhibition  of  the  new  Organ 
at  St.  John's  Chapel,  where  Papa  is  organist. 

"  I  went  round  to  the  church  a  little  before  half-past 
five  and  found  everything  right,  a  man  lighting  the  lamps, 
and  another  putting  the  Programmes  in  the  pews.  I  took 
about  six  or  eight  of  these  to  Mr.  Delafield's,  to  show  and 
give  them  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.,  as  I  expected  the  church 
would  be  crowded  and  they  would  hardly  have  a  chance 
to  get  any.  Mr.  D.  told  me  he  was  going  to  send  his 
coachman  to  secure  his  pew  for  him  so  that  they  might 
be  sure  of  a  good  seat,  his  being  in  a  very  central  posi- 
tion. I  then  went  home  to  tea,  and  went  to  the  church 
again  at  7  o'clock. 

'*  It  was  then  almost  full,  and  the  people  were  pouring 
in  from  the  North  and  from  the  South,  from  the  East  and 
from  the  West. 

''I  ran  home  for  a  lady  who  had  volunteered  her  ser- 
vices to  help  on  this  occasion.  I  seated  her  comfortably 
in  the  organ  gallery  and  left  her  peeping  through  the  cur- 
tain at  some  gentlemen,  to  go  on  my  voyage  of  discovery 
through  the  church.  I  found  Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  in  a  strange 
pew,  for  although  they  had  sent  their  coachman  an  hour 
and  a  half  before  the  time,  yet  their  pew  was  filled,  and 
as  the  church  was  open  to  all,  every  pew  was  free.  I  had 
a  small  conversation  with  them  and  also  with  Harriot  D., 
who  was  some  pews  behind  them.     I  thought  I  would  go 


Early  Days  in  America  119 


up  the  middle  aisle  to  see  the  organ  and  how  it  looked, 
and  was  in  danger  of  being  left  there,  for  I  could,  with 
difficulty,  get  to  the  door  as  the  people  were  pouring  in  so 
fast ;  this  was  about  twenty  minutes  before  the  time. 
While  engaged  in  the  charitable  work  of  trying  to  get 
seats  for  some  pretty  girls  and  an  old  gentleman,  the  clock 
struck  seven.  I  hurried  to  get  back  again,  but  the  people, 
— who  were  now  so  thick  that  I  could  have  walked  on 
their  heads  all  over  the  church — kept  crowding  and  push- 
ing so  that  it  took  me  several  minutes  of  hard  work  to 
get  back  to  the  organ  gallery.  I  was  almost  going  to  give 
it  up  as  a  bad  job,  but  persevered  till  I  gained  my  end. 

*'  I  sent  you  a  Herald  which  you  will  receive  before  this 
and  which  will  give  you  an  account  of  the  performances; 
and  also  contains  a  high  compliment  to  Papa.  So  much 
for  that.  I  have  a  Piano  and  last  night  I  played  '  Home 
sweet  home  I  '  upon  it. 

''  Your  truly  affectionate  Brother, 

Handel." 

'^  April  ^oth,  1 841. 

*'  I  went  last  evening  to  attend  Rehearsal  of  the  choir  at 
St.  John's  School-room.  As  it  rained  hard,  only  one  or 
two,  including  the  organists,  came.  I  wish  you  could 
have  seen  Papa  last  night,  wrapped  up  in  his  Macintosh, 
(that  funny  check  one),  overshoes,  and  that  green  um- 
brella and  hat  extra-ordinary.  Do  you  think  you  would 
have  known  him  ?  Nevertheless,  he  looked  natural  to 
me,  that  's  flat.  But  I  tell  you  he  looked  sharp  at  me, 
when  I  entered,  for  he  did  not  expect  me." 

My  Brother  had  ruptured  a  small  blood  vessel. 
He  tried  to  prevent  his  Father's  anxiety  on  his  ac- 
count. 


I20  Edward  Hodges 


' '  New  York,  May  ist,  1841. 

"  I  continue  to  play  the  organ  as  Papa's  Deputy  at 
St.  Paul's  Church,  and  occasionally  encounter  some  stray 
incidents.     I  will,  if  I  can  remember,  repeat  one. 

"  One  Sunday  evening,  I  was  warming  myself  by  the 
fire  before  commencement  of  the  service.  Papa  was  in 
the  vestry,  or  else  had  not  come,  I  forget  which.  I  was 
suddenly  accosted  after  this  manner  by  a  thick-set,  ugly- 
looking,  what-once-had-been-red-haired  man,  a  non-ofificial 
but  very  officious  member  of  the  church  : — 

*'  *  Mr,  Hodges,  we  have  heard  that  your  Father  is 
going  back  to  England  and  were  in  hopes  that  you  are 
going  too,  for  we  don't  like  your  music  at  all.'  Here  a 
long  conversation  ensued,  which  left  no  new  principle 
settled,  and  was  only  stopped  by  the  bell  announcing  it 
7|-  o'clock,  when  I  ran  up  to  the  organ,  opened  the  door, 
and  began  playing.  We  might  have  gone  on  with  our 
conversation  to  this  day  but  for  that  bell.  O,  Miriam  ! 
We  have  had  such  grumbling,  such  fault-finding  and 
such  unpleasant  speeches  made  in  this  church  within 
the  last  twelve-month  that  it  has  been  a  very  unpleasant 
berth. 

"  The  same  thing  has  been  gone  through  at  St.  John's 
and  they  have  made  up  their  minds  to  it ;  so  I  suppose 
we  cannot  expect  a  like  reform  in  a  shorter  space, 
especially  when  there  are  so  many  old  folks." 

"  Sunday  Morning,  June  ijtk,  1841,  Hellgate. 

**  My  Dear  Brothers  and  Sisters  : 

**  Being  out  of  town  as  you  see  by  the  date,  and  it 
being  a  wet  morning,  and  as  we  are  deprived  of  the 
privilege  of  going  to  church,  the  best  thing  I  can  do  is  to 
write  a  general  letter  to  you  all.  How  sorry  we  are  to 
hear  of  poor  dear  Miriam's  illness !     What  a  trial  it  is ! 


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Early  Days  in  America  121 


Let  us  all  hope  for  the  best,  and  at  the  same  time  be  pre- 
pared for  the  worst.  '  We  know  not  what  a  day  may 
bring  forth.' 

*'  I  have  not  been  well  at  all  this  winter,  having  been 
troubled  with  a  severe  cough.  Seeing  that  I  had  got 
very  thin  and  lost  all  my  colour,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Delafield 
kindly  invited  me  to  their  cottage,  whither  I  come  every 
afternoon  after  bank  hours.  Papa  has  procured  some  one 
to  play  for  me  at  St.  Paul's  this  morning. 

"  I  enjoy  myself  greatly  out  here  and  feel  greatly  bene- 
fited. The  weather  has  been  very  warm  for  the  last  three 
weeks,  having  attained  to  93  degrees  at  times,  but  yester- 
day the  wind  got  round  to  the  northeast  and  we  have  a 
cold  rain.  I  am  now  sitting  in  an  old  green-house,  which 
Mr.  Delafield  has  altered,  having  put  a  floor  to  it  even 
with  the  parlours,  and  made  it  into  a  very  pretty  little 
sitting-room. 

''  The  tide  is  just  coming  up,  and  vessels  are  passing 
both  ways. 

"  The  air  is  delightful,  it  has  just  ceased  raining,  though 
the  sun  has  not  yet  made  its  appearance,  and  it  is  a  ques- 
tion whether  it  will  to-day. 

"  The  flowers  and  garden  generally  look  much  im- 
proved ;  the  birds  are  singing  delightfully ;  the  tree- 
toads  now  and  then  croaking ;  the  katydids  have  not 
yet  made  their  appearance.  Moschetos  are  very  plenti- 
ful and  my  hands,  face,  etc.,  suffer  from  their  mischievous 
bites. 

''  I  read  Jubal's  letter  to  Papa  to  Mrs.  Delafield.  We 
had  several  very  hearty  laughs  over  it.  Where  does  he 
get  all  his  big  words  from  ?  Mrs.  D.  wants  him  to  write 
an  '  elaborate  account  '  of  what  he  finds  in  America, 
should  he  ever  visit  it  ;  what  he  thinks  of  the  people, 
indeed  she  wants  an  '  elaborate  account  '  of  his  thoughts 
on  America  and  the  Americans.     She  also  expressed  a 


122 


Edward  Hodges 


desire  to  see  his  Journal  of  his  Voyage,  and  all  his 
thoughts  that  he  writes  down.  Would  it  not  be  amus- 
ing?    Yes,  '  I  guess  '  it  would. 

**  My  love  to  all  dear  friends. 

**  Your  affectionate  brother, 

"  Handel." 


CHAPTER    X. 

THE    HUDSON    STREET    HOME. 

ON  the  nth  of  April,  1844,  the  organ  of  St. 
Paul's  Chapel,  New  York,  gave  forth  its 
most  jubilant  sound,  as  a  small  party  turning  from 
the  altar,  proceeded  down  the  middle  aisle  to  the 
Broadway  gate.  The  player  was  my  Father's 
faithful  disciple,  John  F.  Huntington,  who  sur- 
prised him  by  thus  announcing  the  happy  marriage 
of  Dr.  Edward  Hodges  to  Miss  S.  A.  Moore,  of 
New  York.  The  ceremony  was  performed  by  the 
Right  Rev.  Benjamin  T.  Onderdonk,  D.D.,  Bishop 
of  New  York. 


My  second  mother.  Miss  Sarah  Ann  Moore,  was 
one  of  the  most  charmingr  and  ao^reeable  women  in 
the  larore  and  refined  circle  in  which  she  moved, 
sparkling  and  fascinating  in  conversation,  unosten- 
tatious and  natural  in  manner,  it  was  impossible  for 
her  not  to  attract  all  in  the  intellectual  society, 
which  gathered  around  her  brother,  Nathaniel  F. 
Moore,  LL.D.,  who  at  the  time  of  her  marriage. 


12' 


124  Edward   Hodo[-es 


t> 


was  Greek  Professor  and  afterwards,  President  of 
Columbia  College,  New  York.  Among  the  intellec- 
tual she  had  a  right  to  move,  being  the  daughter  of 
a  distinguished  physician,  the  niece  of  Bishop 
Moore  of  New  York,  and  first  cousin  of  Clement 
C.  Moore,  LL.D.,  Hebrew  Professor  at  the  General 
Theological  Seminary,  New  York.  She  spoke 
French  and  Italian  with  fluency  and  ease,  her  pre- 
ceptor in  the  latter  language  having  been  Signor 
Daponte,  who  had  arranged  the  Libretto  of  Don 
Giovanni  for  Mozart  ;  and  she  numbered  literary 
men  of  England,  Italy,  and  France  amongst  her 
friends. 

During  one  of  her  visits  abroad  her  bust  was 
taken  by  Thorwaldsen  ;  and  in  New  York  she  had 
received  vocal  lessons  of  Madame  Malibran. 
Naturally  fond  of  music  and  highly  cultivated  in 
opera  and  other  branches  of  the  study,  sacred  music 
of  a  high  order,  and  the  school  of  our  Cathedral 
composers  were  quite  unknown  to  her.  The  ser- 
vices she  had  heard  while  in  England  had  not 
reached  her  heart.  Thus  she  was  the  more  ready 
to  acknowledge  in  my  Father  a  Master  in  the 
Sacred  Art  ;  and  devotedly  true  to  this  she  re- 
mained to  the  end  of  her  life.  She  was  attracted 
curiously  by  his  appearance  and  his  dress  ;  and 
used  laughingly  to  tell  the  story  of  her  first  meet- 


The  Hudson  Street  Home  125 


ing  him  at  her  cousin,  Dr.  Clement  Moore's  gate. 
On  asking  Dr.  Moore  who  that  was,  he  repHed  : 
*'  Why,  Sarah,  that  is  the  great  Dr.  Hodges  !  " 
"  Dear  me,"  she  said,  "  I  thought  it  was  an  old 
Scotch  peddler  !  "  When  married  to  him  she  called 
him  her  *'  old  English  pedaler."  Another  title  she 
gave  him  was,  **  The  ineffable  Hodges,"  as  she 
loved  ''  Hodges  in  F."  more  than  any  other  service 
he  used.  Unaccustomed  to  the  highest  form  of 
German  music,  she  used  to  exclaim  as  she  heard  my 
Father's  daily  rendering  of  one  or  two  of  Sebastian 
Bach's  '  Fugues,'  ''  Oh  those  horrid  Fugues  !  "  But 
gradually  and  surely  her  tone  changed.  She  began 
to  like,  and  then  to  /ove  them  ;  and  on  no  account 
would  miss  **  the  Doctor's  morning  '  Fugue.' " 

She  was  very  clever  at  extemporary  versifica- 
tion, but  withal  her  character  shone  brightest  in  the 
daily  round  of  her  life.  She  was  beloved  by  all 
classes  ;  rich  and  poor,  the  scholarly  and  the 
humble.  She  could  hear  of  no  case  of  sickness  or 
sorrow  without  doing  her  utmost  to  relieve  it.  A 
perfect  sincerity  governed  speech  and  action  ;  she 
was  exactly  the  same  whether  adorning  a  literary 
circle,  or  reading  the  Bible  at  the  bedside  of  one 
of  her  humble  poor.  She  was  generous  in  spirit, 
faithful  and  loving  In  every  relation  of  life.  Per- 
haps her  most  beautiful  characteristic  was  the  zeal 


126  Edward  Hodges 


and  entirety  with  which  she  entered  into  my 
Father's  Hfe.  With  her  practical  mind  she  blended 
a  high  and  religious  ideal.  Her  spirit  was  recep- 
tive to  a  great  degree,  and  was  capable  of  great 
exaltation  through  sacred  music. 

From  the  first  she  perceived,  acknowledged,  and 
almost  worshipped  the  gift  that  was  in  my  Father. 
This  it  was  that  united  them  in  this  world  ;  and 
may  we  not  hope  that  this  ''  Blest  tie  that  binds," 
is  extended  to  a  deeper,  holier,  loftier  bliss,  in  the 
"  Realm  of  Perfect  Accord." 

We  will  take  a  glimpse  at  the  Hudson  Street 
home  in  1856. 

Let  us  enter  by  the  double  door  from  the  front 
room  into  my  Father's  study.  We  must  close  the 
door  and  think. 

He  is  not  here  at  the  moment :  all  is  silent,  yet  the 
room  speaks  of  him  in  every  corner  of  its  solitude. 
His  strong  Individuality  seems  impressed  on  every- 
thing his  hand  might  touch  ;  on  the  mighty  Handel 
on  the  mantel,  in  his  majestic  manliness,  on  the 
volume  of  Bach  on  the  pianoforte,  on  the  keys 
where  his  fingers  play,  as  they  unwind  with  love 
and  learning  the  intricacies  of  prelude  and  fugue. 
And  those  books  !  What  voices,  above  all,  have 
they  !     Large  MS.  volumes,^  representing  incredi- 

^  The  MS.  volumes  alluded  to  are  Dr.  Hodges'  own  full  Anthems, — many 
of  them  being  settings  of  whole  Psalms,  and  several  with  orchestral  accom- 


The  Hudson  Street  Home  127 


ble  labour  of  brain  and  hand.  They  belong  to  the 
period  we  have  read  of,  that  seemingly  wonderful 
life  in  the  other  sphere  :  a  life  wonderful,  not  so 
much  for  outward  demonstration,  as  for  erecting 
these  monuments  of  inexhaustible  musical  power 
and  fertility. 

The  accompanying  poem  of  ''The  Cat's  Fugue  " 
is  one  of  many — humorous  and  clever  as  they  all 
were — thrown  off  by  my  Father,  as  he  sat  with  his 
family  around  him,  on  those  cozy  "  Evenings  at 
Home,"  in  his  little  gray  house  in  Hudson  Street, 
New  York,  near  old  St.  John's  Park. 

With  the  bright  lamp  burning  and  casting  a 
shaded  light  on  the  group  around  the  table,  and 
with  the  curtains  drawn,  how  pleasant  it  all  looked  ! 
In  the  central  place — and  truly  the  central  figure — 
was  the  Doctor  ;  his  thoughtful  and  merry  face 
bending  over  his  paper,  as  his  pen  scratched  away, 
taking  down  the  rhymes  which  flowed  so  freely  on. 
Every  now  and  then,  as  if  thinking  a  while  to  get 
the  lines  more  smoothly  written,  out  would  come 
the  gold  snuff-box,  and  he  "  took  a  pinch  "  as  only 
a  gentleman  can  take  it. 

paniments  ;  Services  ;  arrangements  from  the  works  of  J.  S.  Bach  ;  Graun's 
"  Te  Deum,"  adapted  to  the  English  version  ;  Boyce's  "  Cathedral  Coll."  : 
from  the  old  Notation  ;  Purcell's  "  Ode  "  ;  "  Organ  Fugues"  ;  "  Stringed 
Quartetts  "  ;  besides  smaller  compositions  for  the  Church  :  these  present  the 
work  of  a  life  time. 


128  Edward  Hodges 


Any  little  incident  in  his  circle  of  friends  or  his 
family  furnished  him  with  a  subject  for  his  poems  ; 
and  the  getting  it  into  poetic  or  rhythmic  form  was 
a  pleasant  rest,  after  a  day  of  fatiguing  brain- 
work. 

If  interrupted  by  an  evening  visitor  (which,  how- 
ever, was  constantly  the  case),  how  quickly,  to 
quote  from  himself,  "with  humour  and  grace,"  was 
the  welcome  given  !  Then  came  the  nice  little 
bread-and-cheese  supper,  and  the  glass  of  ale  ;  and 
with  them  the  interesting  and  intelligent  conver- 
sation, the  original  thoughts  and  flashes  of  wit ;  the 
keen  comments  on  the  topics  of  the  day,  or  the  droll 
anecdote  ;  and,  better  than  all,  many  a  helpful 
thought  and  scientific  suggestion,  or  sound  bit  of 
musical  learning  or  advice,  so  pleasantly  thrown  in  ; 
all  tending  to  make  up  a  delightful  and  protracted 
evening,  often  till  after  eleven  o'clock  ;  the  charm 
of  which  those  who  participated  in  it  can  never 
forget. 

The  poem  is  founded  on  facts.  Greenfield  was 
the  home  of  Dr.  S.  P.  Tuckerman.  He  was  the 
sportsman,  and  he  shot  the  cat. 


The  Hudson  Street  Home  129 


THE  CAT'S  FUGUE. 
Scarlatti, 


There  once  was  a  man  (so  the  story  doth  go) 
Who  shot  at  d.  pigeon,  and  yet  killed  a  crow  ; 
But  I  've  heard  of  a  man,  who,  far  better  than  that, 
Once  fired  at  a  rabbity  and  murdered  a  cat. 

Poor  puss  had  been  frolicking  out  in  the  sun, 
And  was  flatt'ring  herself  it  was  capital  fun  ; 
When  she  came  in  the  view  of  our  sportsman's  keen  eye, 
Who  cried,  "  There  goes  a  rabbit !  "  and  straightway  let 
fly. 

The  people  of  Greenfield,  amazed  and  perplexed. 

All  shook  their  wise  heads  to  think  what  would  come 

next ; 
And  the  penitent  marksman  was  heard  to  exclaim, 
*'  Woe  is  me  !  woe  is  me  !  that  I  shot  such  queer  game  !  ** 

**  Now,  George  !    Up  and  run  for  a  surgeon,  George,  run  ! 
And  bid  him  to  come,  and  see  what  's  to  be  done." 
So  George  he  did  run,  and  the  surgeon  he  came  ; 
But  I  can't  for  the  life  of  me  tell  you  his  name. 


He  looked  in  the  eyes  and  he  opened  the  jaws, 
And  he  felt  for  a  pulse  in  the  cold,  clammy  paws ; 
And  then,  with  deep  feeling  and  pathos,  he  said, 
*'  In  my  humble  opinion  this  creature  's  stone  dead. 


M 


Now  this  puss  was  a  fav'rite,  a  pet,  and  all  that ; 
Indeed,  you  may  say  an  exemplary  cat  ; 
And  soon  the  sad  tidings  were  borne  to  her  master. 
Of  all  this  most  bloody  and  fatal  disaster. 


130  Edward  Hodo^es 


t> 


Surely,  none  that  beheld  him  his  grief  could  despise, 
As  he  stood  by  the  corpse,  with  big  tears  in  his  eyes  ; 
And  the  sportsman's  soft  heart,  overflowing  with  pity. 
Regretted  that  ever  he  'd  come  from  the  City. 

At  length,  when  his  feelings  found  vent,  he  exclaimed, 
^'  That  't  was  /who  the  gun  at  the  animal  aimed. 
And  thus  shortened  the  days  of  the  dear  little  brute, 
I  will  not,  one  moment,  attempt  to  dispute. 

"  But  surely  it  was  not  my  wish  or  intent 

To  harrow  your  soul  with  so  dire  an  event. 

That  I  /eel  for  your  loss  you  shall  soon  be  assured. 

And  thus  we  may  hope  that  your  grief  will  be  cured." 

Now,  just  at  this  mo^ment,  a  five-dollar  bill 
Was  transferred  to  the  mourner  with  hearty  good-will. 
The  effect  was  electric,  like  magic,  so  strange. 
From  sorrow  to  gladness,  so  quick  was  the  change. 

His  tears  now  all  dry,  the  man  laughingly  said. 
That,  in  view  of  the  cash,  it  was  well  puss  was  dead  ; 
And  he  added  that  now  he  would  sell  off  his  sheep, 
And  a  good  breed  of  cats  he  would  henceforward  keep. 

Then,  addressing  our  sportsman,  with  humour  and  grace, 

"  I  hope  I  shall  frequently  see  your  sweet  face  ; 

For  whenever  you  wish  for  some  game  that  is  nice, 

I  will  find  you  a  cat  at  the  very  same  priced 

E.  H. 

May  22,  i8j6. 

We  have  been  favoured  by  a  correspondent  with 
the  annexed  extract  from  the   Christian  Alliance 


The  Hudson  Street  Home  131 


and  Family  Visitor.  The  letter  is  dated  at  Chf- 
ton,  Bristol,  and  is  given  under  the  head  of  "  Eng- 
lish Correspondence  "  : 

"  It  must  be  gratifying  to  our  estimable  friend,  Dr. 
Hodges,  to  find  that  notwithstanding  his  long  absence 
from  his  native  land,  he  is  still  remembered  by  the  in- 
habitants of  Bristol  ;  and  it  is  also  gratifying  to  his  friends 
here  to  find  that  they  thus  bear  testimony  to  the  worth 
and  excellence  of  their  former  townsman." 

In  speaking  of  Bristol  Cathedral,  the  writer  in 
the  Alliance  says  : 

"  The  Cloisters  have  some  fine  old  buildings,  which  re- 
call the  days  of  the  Tudors.  Here  we  saw  the  Prebendal 
house  (built  on  the  Norman  sub-structure  of  low  arches 
on  which  stood  the  Monk's  Refectory)  formerly  occupied 
by  the  learned  and  accomplished  Dr.  Hodges,  now  Organ- 
ist of  Trinity  Church,  New  York.  This  gentleman  is  a 
native  of  Bristol,  and  is,  we  find,  held  in  affectionate  re- 
membrance by  the  best  people  of  the  City.  I  rarely,  if 
ever,  have  heard  warmer  encomiums  pronounced  by  finer 
spirits  than  I  have  listened  to  in  reference  to  the  Doctor." 

A  New  York  paper,  about  the  same  date,  says  : 

**  We  met  that  sterling  musician  of  the  true  ecclesias- 
tical school,  Dr.  Edward  Hodges,  a  few  days  ago,  and  are 
gratified  to  find  that  he  is  still  presenting  a  bold  and 
unflinching  front  towards  the  innovations  of  modern 
improvements,  as  they  are  termed  by  some,  in  the 
compositions  for  the  Church.  He  considers  himself  'a 
sojourner  '  in  this  country,  to  use  his  own  words  ;  and  will 
undoubtedly  return  to  England  ere  long." 


CHAPTER  XL 


MY    father's    three    ORGANS. 


1'^HE  opening  of  the  organs  of  St.  John's 
Chapel  In  1841,  Trinity  Church  in  1846,  and 
Trinity  Chapel  in  1855,  were  like  milestones  in  my 
Father's  musical  life  in  New  York.  The  former 
created  great  enthusiasm,  as  nothing  approaching 
such  organ-playing  and  effects  had  been  heard  in 
New  York  ;  and  no  doubt,  as  this  was  my  Father's 
first  large  organ,  he  played  with  the  freshness  and 
genius  of  his,  here,  undeveloped  powers,  excited  by 
the  novelty  of  his  position  and  the  real  grandeur 
of  that  noble  instrument. 

Regarding  the  Consecration  Service  of  Trinity 
Church,  the  grandeur  of  which  seems  to  have  be- 
come traditional,  I  will  only  remark  upon  the 
rendering  of  the  95th  Psalm,   "  Venlte  exultemus.'* 

The  music  for  this  canticle  chosen  for  the  occa- 
sion was  the  double  Grand  Chant  in  C,  by  Jones, 
which    my   Father    had    arranged   in    eight    parts. 

There  were    probably  more  than  two  singers  on 

132 


My  Father's  Three  Organs  133 


each  part,  with  his  band  of  trained  choristers  be- 
hind (for  the  organ  loft  was  quite  full)  ;  and  I  can 
truly  say  that  the  effect  produced  surpassed  in 
massive  grandeur  all  that  I  have  ever  heard  in  the 
way  of  chanting  either  before  or  since.  This  was 
not  only  produced  by  his  splendidly-drilled  choir 
and  the  spirit  that  came  from  the  magnificent  organ, 
but  the  majesty  and  meaning  of  the  95th  Psalm, 
placed  as  it  is  at  the  beginning  of  our  service,  was 
powerfully  brought  out.  It  must  have  been  my 
Father's  spiritual  conception  and  responsive  devo- 
tion that  sent  King  David's  words  home  to  our 
hearts.  The  organ  was  not  finished  then,  but  the 
effects  were  none  the  less  marvellous.  The  moving 
organ-part,  perhaps  from  his  coupling  to  the  choir- 
organ  his  triple-slat  swell  at  octaves,  formed  a 
mystic,  rich  background  to  the  substantial  body  of 
voices,  just  as  rows  of  Doric  columns  are  thrown 
out  into  relief  by  an  aerial  sea  of  blue  behind  them. 
Added  to  that,  the  rolling  at  intervals  of  the  great 
diapasons  and  the  mysterious  depth  of  the  32-ft. 
pedals,  like  the  sound  of  the  distant  sea, — all  com- 
bined to  create  an  ineffaceable  impression  upon  the 
mind,  not  only  of  devotional  and  musical  grandeur, 
but  of  my  Father's  interpretation  of  the  service  of 
the  Church,  of  which  he  was  said  to  be  a  "  true 
liturofical  minister." 


134  Edward   Hodo;es 


Let  me  say  a  few  words  about  the  Consecration 
Service  of  Trinity  Chapel.  It  is  hardly  known 
with  what  intelligent  interest  my  Father  entered 
into  the  work  of  the  erection  of  this  noble  Chapel  ; 
so  also  he  was  a  familiar  figure  about  Trinity 
Church  during  the  last  years  of  the  work  there, 
watching  with  keen  interest  every  department,  and 
being  consulted  especially  in  the  arrangement  of 
the  clock  and  bells.  He  took  great  pleasure  In 
his  friendship  for  Richard  Upjohn,  the  eminent 
English  architect  of  both  buildings. 

On  Nov.  II,  185 1,  the  Diary  says: 

*'  I  went  down  to  Upjohn's  Office  and  inspected  the 
plans  of  the  new  Chapel.  Mr.  Upjohn  treated  me  very 
kindly  and  explained  portions  of  them.  I  am  to  see  him 
again.  If  I  can  only  be  trusted  by  this  people,  I  think  I 
can  make  a  most  delightful  Organ  effect  there." 

And  when  the  Consecration  Day  came,  with  its 
unparalleled  service  of  musical  solemnity  and 
beauty,  yet  remembered  by  many,  organ  effects 
were  indeed  produced  which  have  never  been  ex- 
celled. 

The  occasion  called  forth  the  now  published 
Anthem,  Psalm  122,  than  which  not  one  that  my 
Father  ever  wrote  seems  more  full  of  devotional 
science  and  lofty,  chaste  imagination. 

From  his  original  way  of  treating  the  subject,  or 


My  Father's  Three  Organs  135 


more  properly  from  his  own  conception  of  the 
scene  and  Psalm,  we  seem  to  see  the  multitudes 
ascending  to  the  Temple,  and  to  hear  their  tramp 
and  catch  the  sound  of  their  voices  as  they  sing 
their  "  Song  of  Degrees,"  *'  Let  us  go,  let  us  go 
into  the  house  of  the  Lord."  My  Father  evidently 
saw  the  picture  in  his  own  mind,  and  the  rendering 
of  his  music  places  it  before  us.  All  seem  now  to 
be  gathered  within  the  Temple  w^alls.  The  mas- 
terly and  manly  solo  of  the  Hierophant,  'T  was 
glad  when  they  said  unto  me,"  echoing  and  ex- 
pressing to  the  multitudes  their  own  sentiments,  is 
followed  and  accompanied  by  a  chorus  of  priests 
and  singers  in  true  antiphon :  "  Our  feet  shall 
stand  in  thy  gates,  O  Jerusalem."  This  is  a  scien- 
tific and  well-worked  fugue,  purely  diatonic,  and 
most  interesting  and  enticing  to  sing,  the  Hiero- 
phant leading  to  the  close. 

The  service  for  Jerusalem  proceeds,  the  Hie- 
rophant stating  in  a  bold  and  original  recitative 
the  glories  of  the  city  :  ''  The  seat  of  Judgment — 
the  throne  of  David."  Three  priests  respond  in 
an  exquisite  trio  :  "  O  pray  for  the  peace  of  Jeru- 
salem." Of  course  a  little  fugue  comes  in  ;  but  in 
this  case  it  seems  particularly  to  exemplify  the 
meaning  of  the  fugue  in  Divine  worship  ;  the  voices 
echoing  and  following  and  answering  each  other;  a 


136  Edward  Hod<^es 


little  triad  in  itself,  a  union  of  science,  voice,  and 
spirit,  as  they  blend  together  so  softly  at  the  last, 

**  O  pray  I — pray  for  peace  !  " 

After  this  comes  what  is  the  crowning  beauty  of 
the  anthem — the  Peace  Chorus.  This  is  virtually 
the  last  movement,  being  interrupted  by  the  lovely 
little  solo,  '*  For  my  brethren  and  companions' 
sake,"  which  was  composed  for  and  sung  by  the 
writer  at  that  time.  This  is  followed  by  the  final 
chorus  for  ''  Peace."  The  Composer  supposes  it 
the  prayer  in  heart  of  the  vast  multitude:  ''  Peace 
be  within  thy  walls,  and  plenteousness  within  thy 
palaces."  It  is  a  gem  in  sacred  composition,  it 
embodies  an  ideal  which  can  be  comprehended  by 
few  and  only  by  those  who  are  capable  of  forming 
or  perceiving  a  religious  ideal.  It  is  in  the  key  of 
C,  and  in  -|  time.  There  is  a  flowing,  gently-moving, 
passing  on,  of  harmony  and  melody ;  there  are 
interior  passages  of  sixths  in  vocal  and  instru- 
mental parts,  which  seem  to  be  floating  down  and 
around  ;  moving,  yet  ever  at  rest — satisfying,  yet 
causing  us  to  crave  for  more.  There  is  the  regu- 
lar, continued,  soft  beat  of  the  deep  pedal  notes, 
but  from  his  own  magic,  mystic  power  at  his  organ, 
which  none  could  imitate  or  understand,  there  were 
produced,  just  as  he  said,  ''some  most  delightful 
effects."     How  simple  his  words  !     His  marvellous 


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My  Father's  Three  Organs  137 


combinations,  his  exquisite  swell,  his  octave  coup- 
lers, all  were  obeying  him  ;  but  there  was  a  spirit 
breathing  out  of  those  serried  ranks  of  pipes  around 
and  about  him  which  was  not  of  earth.  His  hands 
— and  who  that  had  watched  and  noticed  could 
forget  them?  —  moved  or,  as  he  used  to  say, 
*'  crawled,"  over  the  keys  ;  but  his  face,  illuminated 
as  it  was,  showed  above  all  where  the  spirit  had 
caught  its  inspiration  ;  and  back  of  him,  above  and 
around,  the  words,  *'  Peace  !  Peace  !"  seemed  to  be 
wafted  downwards  as  though  on  angel's  wings, 
suggested  by  the  falling  chords  of  sixths  and  those 
marvellously  beautiful  organ  effects,  *'  Peace  be 
within  thy  walls."  But,  as  he  said,  *'  Peace  is  no 
time  of  idleness,  but  of  steady  occupation,"  the 
same  pleasant  little  fugue  comes  back,  inverted 
this  time,  for  to  him  it  was  as  easy  one  way  as 
another,  and,  winding  up  with  this  happy  employ- 
ment, in  almost  unbroken  silence  the  peace-laden 
chords  die  awav. 

With  a  pathetic  and  prophetic  spirit  he  gathered 
around  him  on  this  occasion  all  his  four  children, 
seeming  to  realize  it  would  be  perhaps  his  last 
memorable  service  in  the  parish. 

And  it  was  so. 

On  the  title-page  of  his  own  copy  of  this  anthem, 
my  Father  has  written  : 


13^  Edward   Hodges 


"  The  sermon  reported  to  have  occupied  twenty-four 
minutes  ;  the  Antliem,  twenty-two  minutes.  Balance  in 
favour  of  tlie  former,  two  minutes." 

It  v^as  my  Father's  habit  to  go  to  the  Vestry  of 
old  Trinity  Church  before  morning  service,  to  have 
a  few  pleasant  words  with  the  clergy. 

I  have  watched  him  pass  down  the  south  aisle, 
carrying  his  broad  brimmed  hat  sometimes  on  the 
head  of  his  cane,  and  occasionally  passing  his  hand 
through  his  hair — as  he  came  from  pillar  to  pillar, 
perhaps  touched  by  the  rays  falling  through  the 
colored  glass  ;  and  I,  w^ith  others,  have  realized 
what  a  picture  his  form,  face,  and  presence  left  on 
the  mind,  and  how  he  harmonized  with  his  sur- 
rounding of  church  architecture. 

Arrived  at  the  organ  loft  he  seemed  to  belong 
to  the  organ.  His  large  choir,  including  his  boys, 
were  in  their  proper  places,  and  we  all  felt  like 
soldiers  on  duty  and  stood  to  our  guns.  He  was 
truly  a  beneficent  **  monarch  of  all  he  surveyed," 
and  he  met  answering  looks  of  devotion  from  all 
on  whom  his  bright  glances  fell. 

Looking  at  the  paper  containing  the  *'  Psalm  and 
Hymn,"  I  have  heard  him,  with  a  quizzical  expres- 
sion, say  : 

"What  shall  I  do  with  that?  It  is  neither 
praise  nor  prayer  !  " 


My  Father's  Three  Organs  139 


What  a  glorious  thing  it  is  for  us  all  to  look 
back  upon  that  we  sang  with  '*  Dr.  Hodges  at 
Trinity  Organ  I  "  That  we  were  close  to  him  as 
he  manipulated  the  stops  and  played  his  inimitable 
"opening  Voluntary."  Have  we  ever  heard  one 
since  ?  It  was  a  poem — a  prayer — and  an  artistic 
epilogue.  Then  the  rendering  of  Ps.  95,  who 
else  ever  o^ave  it  such  a  grrand  meaninor  ?  If  it 
came  to  our  lot  to  sing  one  of  his  own  Services^ 
what  a  pleasure  it  was ;  and  though  the  playing  of 
King,  and  Rogers,  and  Gibbons  was  superb  and  put 
new  life  into  the  old  masters,  still  we  preferred  his 
own,  and  revelled  in  them.  He  was  very  loath  to 
use  his  own  Services  ;  we  had  to  beg  for  them. 
Then  the  "  giving  out "  the  tune  !  no  one  else  even 
thought  of  such  a  thing  !  It  is  a  lost  art !  but  it 
was  superb  !  Oh  !  the  sound  of  that  organ  !  will 
it  ever  entirely  die  out  of  our  ears?  No  wonder 
that  the  people  below  wished  over  and  over  again 
that  the  choir  would  ''stop  singing,  and  Dr. 
Hodges  play  the  hymns  alone!"  The  conclud- 
ing Voluntary  was  the  summing  up  of  all,  for  it 
seemed  always  as  if  the  service  had  inspired  it. 
Sometimes  it  was  overpowering  in  its  grandeur. 
It  had  \\i^  genius  through  it,  the  same  kindling  life, 
whether  the  music  were  Bach,   or  Handel,  or  his 


I40  Edward  Hodges 


own.  Those  great  minds  again  spoke  In  living 
voice  ;  or  his  own  thoughts  partook  of  the  gran- 
deur of  theirs  ;  only  having  more  freshness  and 
freer  modulation.  No  wonder  people  fiocked  to 
old  Trinity,  for,  musicians  or  not,  they  knew  they 
were  In  presence  of  a  rare  and  great  mind  ;  and 
for  me,  all  I  could  do,  was  to  go  far  away  in  the 
organ  loft  or  down  In  the  church  and  bury  my 
face,  and  listen  ;  following,  as  well  as  I  could,  his 
overwhelming  richness  of  improvizatlon,  or  extem- 
pore, thorough  fugue-power.  Ah,  those  days ! 
Days,   indeed,   never  to  return. 

He  had  a  magnetic  hold  on  his  choir.  It  was  a 
very  different  thing  to  any  other  "  Church  engage- 
ment." He  took  them  as  human  nature  as  well  as 
singers.  There  was  one  faithful  bass  whose  voice 
was  not  acceptable,  and  whose  pocket  was  low  : 
and  my  Father  gently  silenced  him  and  paid  him 
on  from  his  own  pocket. 

There  was  an  old  dog  named  "  Bouncer"  down 
at  Trinity,  and  every  Sunday  morning  my  Father 
put  a  '*  cracker "  in  his  pocket  for  Bouncer. 
Bouncer  died  at  last,  and  the  Sexton  so  grieved  at 
his  loss,  that  my  Father  gave  him  another  dog. 
This  was  an  intelligent  dog,  a  real  church  dog. 
During    service  he  lay  In   the    porch  ;    and    when 


My  Father's  Three  Organs  141 


service  was  over,  he  would  guard  the  entrance 
under  the  organ,  suffering  no  stranger  to  remain 
inside  who  did  not  remove  his  hat. 

After  I  had  some  Httle  organ  experience  I  said 
to  my  Father,  **  Sir,  I  have  beaten  you  at  last  !" 

**  Very  extraordinary  !  "  he  said.  "  What  have 
you  done  ?  " 

"  I  have  played  the  people  out,  Sir." 

(Something  my  Father  never  did.) 


CHAPTER   XII. 

DR.    HODGES    AT    ST.    PAUL's    CHAPEL    AND    TRINITY 

CHURCH. 

MY  Father  had  great  power  at  the  organ  in 
governing  a  large  body  of  people  singing. 
He  said  it  was  an  art,  but  to  him  it  seemed  nature. 

It  was  evinced  grandly  on  one  occasion,  on 
which  the  writer  was  present,  and  one  never  to  be 
forgotten,  viz.,  the  Convention  held  in  St.  Paul's 
Chapel,  during  which  that  scene  took  place  which 
inaugurated  the  painful  drama  ending  in  the  sus- 
pension of  our  esteemed  Bishop  of  New  York. 
The  Church  was  crowded  in  every  part  and  intense 
excitement  prevailed ;  the  Bishop  on  this  occasion 
having  maintained  his  position  with  a  decision  and 
manliness  seldom  witnessed.  Giving  no  time  for 
further  remark,  he  said,  in  a  full  tone  of  voice, 
"  Let  the   Gloria  in  Excelsis  now  be  sung  !  " 

Before  my  Father  could  get  to  the  keys,  or  rap 

for  wind,  this  hymn  was  begun  by  a  voice  below, 

and    taken   up  by    many    others.      I    watched    my 

Father  as  he  first  felt  softly  for  the  key  in  which 

142 


At  St.   Paul's  and  Trinity  143 


they  were  singing,  then  by  degrees  he  led  them, 
till,  backed  by  the  organ,  the  voices  all  swelled  in  ; 
every  one  in  the  crowded  body  of  the  Church  and 
in  the  crammed  galleries  above,  joining  in  the  sound. 
It  was  grand  in  the  words  ''  Heavenly  King  !  God, 
the  Father  Almighty,"  rich  and  subduedly  grand 
In  the  prayer  part,  and  culminated  when  my 
Father,  catching  the  full  significance  of  the  scene 
and  the  power  of  the  words,  rolled  out  his  full 
organ  at  the  words,  'Thou  only,  O  Christ,  with 
the  Holy  Ghost,  are  Most  High  In  the  glory  of 
God  the  Father."  The  effect  was  superb.  The 
music  of  course  was  the  "  Old  Gloria  in  ExcelsIs," 
known  and  sung  by  every  one  in  the  Church  ;  and 
the  power  or  volume  given  to  It  by  that  unity  was 
immensely  enhanced  by  the  deep  feelings  which 
were  then  stirred. 

Here  Is  an  extract  from  his  Diary,  which  empha- 
sizes In  satire  one  spirit  of  the  times. 

"  September  20,  i8jj. 

"  I  received  by  post  two  pamphlets  by  a  Brooklyn  Rector 
with  a  copy  of  the  Protestant  Churchman,  containing  an 
article  commending  the  Pamphlets.  These  have  given 
me  some  reading,  but  not  much  of  either  profit  or  amuse- 
ment. One  Pamphlet  contains  an  essay  against  the  Daily 
Service  in  Churches,  and  this  by  a  clergyman  ! 

"  In  the  course  of  the  evening,  I  finished  the  perusal  of 
the  two  Pamphlets  above  mentioned.  They  are  lament- 
able   specimens   of    uncharitableness,    and    are    directed 


144  Edward   Hodges 


against  the  High  Church  party.  The  animus  may  be 
gathered  from  the  following  supposititious  prayer  of  such 
a  man  as  the  Author,  gathered  in  a  great  degree  from  his 
own  words  : 

**  Prayer  of  an  Evangelical  Protestant  Episcopal  Phari- 
see : 

"  '  God  !  I  thank  thee  that  I  am  not  as  other  clergymen 
are  ;  formalists,  ritualists,  rubricists,  semi-papists,  or  even 
as  these  Tractarians  and  Ecclesiologists :  I  keep  no  fasts, 
or  Saints-days  ;  I  cannot  intone  the  prayers,  and  I  would 
not  if  I  could  :  I  abhor  and  detest  the  Daily  Service  ;  I 
believe  in  experimental  religion  and  a  change  of  heart  ; 
and  I  give  a  portion  of  what  I  possess  to  Bible  and  Tract 
Societies,  and  the  great  Evangelical  Institutions  of  the 
day.' 

"  It  is  a  fair  specimen  of  the  spirit  of  the  Pamphlets." 

I  cannot  refrain  from  copying  the  following- 
page  from  the  Diary : 

"  September  22^  iS^S- 

"  Mr.  Cook  mentioned  to  me  some  touching  circum- 
stances connected  with  his  family.  He  came  from  Nor- 
wich, has  been  here  a  little  over  three  years,  has  gone  to 
several  churches  (residing  as  he  does  on  the  Eastern  side 
of  the  City,  and  a  long  way  from  Trinity,)  but  finally  fixed 
himself  at  Trinity,  because  the  music  there  affected  him 
deeply — had  been  accustomed  to  take  a  little  son  of  his 
about  six  years  old  with  him,  who  likewise  enjoyed  the 
music  excessively,  and  who  would  catch  the  melodies  of 
the  chaunts  and  shout  them  out  at  home,  besides  delight- 
ing to  describe  to  his  mother  for  hours  together  how 
beautiful  the  music  was.  The  child  died  of  croup,  after 
a  very  brief  illness  ;  and  just  before  his  death,  begged  to 
be  carried  to  Trinity  Church,  that  he  might  hear  once 
more  Dr.   Hodges  play,  *  Praise   the  Lord,  O  my  soul/ 


At  St.   Paul's  and  Trinity  145 


'  And  now,'  said  the  father,  *  I  go  to  Trinity  and  still 
enjoy  the  music,  and  can  never  express  to  you  the  pleasure 
it  has  afforded  me  ;  and  I  often  fancy  that  my  little  boy 
is  there  too, — I  think  I  can  see  him  beside  me.' 

*'  I  bless  God  for  this  little  incident.  It  is  encouraging. 
The  little  fellow  at  home  used  to  sit  upon  a  high  seat  and 
drum  with  his  fingers  upon  the  table  as  though  playing 
upon  an  instrument  ;  and  bawl  out  '  Praise  the  LORD, 
O  my  soul.' 

'*  Doubtless  he  sings  it  still,  but  not  in  such  gross  strains 
as  ours. 

"  The  pure  and  seraphic  enjoyment  of  that  little  fellow 
(six  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  decease)  is  to  me  a  source 
of  greater  and  holier  gratification  than  all  the  commenda- 
tions I  have  ever  received  !  The  boy's  name  was  Alex- 
ander Cook,  his  death  was  almost  sudden,  as  he  was  ailing 
but  little  more  than  an  hour.  Happy  spirit  !  He  has  got 
ahead  of  me  now,  but  I  trust  to  meet  him  in  the  heavenly 
choir — and  perhaps  then  may  have  to  learn  of  him  ! 

"  Before  two  I  was  at  St.  John's,  scribbling  on  the  black- 
board for  my  boys;  and  in  due  time  they  came,  when  I 
gave  them  not  only  a  pretty  severe  musical  practice,  but 
also  some  very  serious  admonitions.  I  have  some  boys  to 
deal  with  whose  domestic  education  is  by  no  means  what  it 
should  be.  It  was  past  three  o'clock  when  I  closed  the 
exercise." 

The  mention  of  St.  John's,  and  the  "  black- 
board," and  the  ''practice"  and  the  "admoni- 
tions "  opens  up  a  chapter  in  my  Father's  New 
York  life  which,  incomplete  as  this  sketch  is,  should 
not  be  passed  over    unnoticed. 

The  musical  training  he  gave  his  Trinity  boys 

xo 


14^  Edward   Hodges 


t> 


was  valuable  for  all  their  lives  ;  but  that  seemed, 
when  they  afterwards  spoke  of  him,  almost  ignored 
in  the  face  of  the  great  love  they  all  cherished  for 
him,  and  the  veneration  they  had  for  his  memory. 
A  strict  disciplinarian,  whose  laws  were  made  to 
be  enforced,  he  was  yet  their  loving  and  sympa- 
thetic friend.  How  they  love  now  to  speak  of  the 
little  treats  and  pleasures  he  gave  them,  especially 
his  regular  habit  of  taking  them  to  have  an  ice- 
cream feast  on  his  birthday,  July  20th.  Wherever 
or  in  whatever  situation  you  meet  an  *'  old  boy  "  of 
Trinity,  whether  in  Orders  or  in  business,  there  is 
but  one  story  of  their  unfailing  love  for  ''  the  Doc- 
tor "  ;  of  the  words  he  said  ;  of  his  quaint  bits  of 
fun  and  repartee  ;  of  his  good  advice  ;  of  his  sound 
admonition  and  good  counsel  for  life  ;  and  of  the 
living  example  he  set  them  by  the  justice,  integrity 
and  high  principle  of  his  own  character,  which  all 
the  time  lay  open  before  them.  His  trials  and 
annoyances  were  many,  but  his  greatest  happiness 
out  of  it  all  must  have  been  the  consciousness  that 
he  was  sowing  good  seed  for  future  years.  He 
had  a  real  sympathy  for  the  young ;  and  his  ways, 
so  singularly  transparent,  appealed  to  their  boyish 
natures  ;  at  the  same  time  they  dreaded  his  reproof 
and  owned  his  severe  judgments  right.  One  way 
he  had   was  of   keeping   all    the   money  the  bad 


At  St.   Paul's  and  Trinity  147 


boys  paid  in  for  fines,  to  buy  prizes  for  the  good 
ones. 

Though  now  grown  up  and  married,  and  plunged 
in  the  thick  of  the  hard  battle  of  life,  I  have 
found  over  and  over  again,  that  this  one  spot  of 
love  for  my  Father  keeps  green  in  their  hearts. 
The  Bible  he  gave — the  writing  he  wrote — the  like- 
ness of  him,  treasured  up — all  say  one  and  the  same 
thing  :  that  the  memory  of  '*  the  dear  Doctor  "  and 
old  Trinity  will  not  fade  away  with  years. 

My  Father's  influence  as  a  warm,  living,  and 
loving  tie  between  our  two  countries,  is  a  thought 
impressed  deeply  upon  my  mind. 

By  one  writer  he  is  called  *' an  Exotic."  And 
so  he  was.  Yet  he  took  root  in  America  so  firmly 
that  he  seems  to  be  absolutely  claimed  here.  Some 
friends  could  not  think  it  at  all  right  that  this 
'*  Memoir,"  for  instance,  should  begin  in  England  ! 
"  He  is  ours,"  they  say,  "he  belongs  to  us."  And 
a  grand  tribute  indeed  it  is  to  both  parties,  that, 
gaining  popularity  here,  he  kept  it,  in  spite  of  his 
Toryism  and  his  most  pronounced  characteristics  as 
an  Englishman. 

One  great  reason  for  this  was  his  sweet  geniality, 
the  freshness  of  youth  brought  up  into  manhood, 
which   instantly  affiliated  him  with  the   young,  as 


148  Edward   Hodges 


well  as  with  all  that  was  generous  and  genuine  and 
honest  in  man,  wherever  found. 

It  was  a  living  power  he  carried  with  him, — that 
unique  characteristic  that,  let  one  be  but  acciden- 
tally in  his  presence  for  five  minutes,  something  he 
would  say,  some  remark  he  would  make,  or  some 
thought  he  would  give  out,  would  linger  in  the 
memory  for  life. 

The  "  international  "  tie  thus  begun,  was  felt  in 
his  music,  which  was  part  and  parcel  of  his  nature. 
How,  without  that  living  genius  and  freshness, 
could  he,  in  the  early  years  of  his  work  (the  decade 
between  1840  and  1850)  have  created  a  love  for,^ 
and  eventually  an  understanding  of,  the  severe 
English  school  of  Cathedral  writers,  King,  Gibbons, 
Boyce,  etc.,  etc.,  until  this  time  quite  unknown  in 
New  York  ? 

Soon  pilgrimages,  Cathedral  pilgrimages,  were 
made  by  the  young  and  enthusiastic,  as  well  as  the 
mature  and  more  thoughtful  of  his  friends,  and  a 
love  and  appreciation  for  our  Church  music  (es- 
pecially for  our  cathedral  services),  was  intensified. 
They  heard  of  him  who  had  quickened  this  love,  at 
Windsor,  at  Bristol,  at  York,  and  in  London: — and 
every  grand  C  organ  they  listened  to  had  a  pipe 
voiced  to  his  name.  While  the  echoing  sounds  in 
the  vaulted  cathedral  roof  fell  on  their  ear  they 


At  St.   Paul's  and  Trinity  149 


could  only  say,  '*  The  noblest  exponent  of  that 
noble  school  has  been  transplanted  on  the  western 
shore.  The  calm,  still  air  is  here — the  rich,  quiet 
breathing-in  of  music  through  the  centuries  ;  but 
the  rushing  wind  is  thej^e.  The  steady  light  of 
ever-new  composition  is  here,  but  the  quivering 
flame  and  living  gleam  is  there'' 

Twenty  years  pass.  The  workman  may  be  re- 
moved, but  God  carries  on  the  work ;  and  the  tie  is 
over  and  over  again  strengthened  by  the  influx  of 
excellent  Eno^lish  musicians  who  have  entered  into 
the  newly-opened  field  ;  and  "  the  cry  is  still,  they 
come."  Yet  his  name,  who  threw  open  the  field, 
is  not  forgotten.  It  is  yet  a  living  name.  He  seems 
yet  present  with  those  who,  when  young,  heard  his 
familiar  voice  and  his  pleasant  joke  ;  who  knew 
his  face  and  form,  and  the  merry  twinkle  of  his  eye. 
And  the  pilgrimages  have  gone  on,  if  but  of  a 
faithful  few,  here  and  there  ;  some  crossed  the  sea 
to  clasp  the  hand  of  their  venerated  musician  once 
more,  while  yet  warm  in  the  flesh,  ere  his  spirit 
caught  the  words,  *'  Come  up  hither." 

Another  twenty  years  have  passed,  and  the  same 
strong  tie  of  sacred  music  in  the  Church  has  led 
other  faithful  hearts  from  the  Western  land  to  the 
city  of  his  birth,  its  surroundings,  and  the  scenes  of 
his  early   life,   as   depicted  in  these    pages.      And 


150  Edward  Hodges 


more,  the  memory  of  him,  though  personally  un- 
known to  them,  has  beguiled  some  true  hearts  to 
seek,  amidst  the  rich  historic  associations  of  the 
spot,  that  quiet  village  churchyard  of  St.  Mary, 
Stanton  Drew,  and  the  Latin  cross,  beneath  the 
willow  tree. 

Pilgrims'  feet  will,  I  trust,  yet  tread  the  sod  of 
that  peaceful  "  God's  Acre."  And  mingled  with 
the  "  Beati  mortui  "  in  their  hearts,  they  may  also 
hear,  as  though  gently  whispered  by  the  breeze,  the 
voice  from  afar,  "Come  up  hither." 


M^^ 


CHAPTER    XIII. 


MY    father's    musical    WORK. 


IT  would  not  be  right  to  withhold  from  even  this 
incomplete  and  general  sketch  of  my  Father's 
life,  some  of  his  thoughts,  views,  and  opinions 
on  the  Theory  of  Sound,  of  Thorough  Bass,  and 
Harmonv. 

'T  is  true,  few  may  be  able  to  follow  him  ;  and 
he  seems  to  me,  as  I  read  his  writings  in  those  far- 
off  days  of  his  youth,  like  one  who  enters  a  vast  hall 
of  silence,  where  even  the  echo  of  his  own  footfall 
is  not  heard.  "  Composers,"  as  he  says,  "  are  not 
often  theorists."  At  the  very  door  of  his  mind 
there  seemed  to  stand  an  array — a  galaxy  of  intel- 
lectual lights,  avenues  of  thought,  waiting  to  be 
explored.  That  accounts  for  his  oft-expressed 
weariness  ;  they  oppressed  him  so  much  that  I  have 
often  thought  it  was  only  the  outlet  of  his  grand 
sacred  music  and  his  almost  unearthly  rest  in  that, 
that  saved  his  mind.  He  prayed  for  a  "  capacious 
intellect."  It  was  eiven  him.  It  was  a  well  bal- 
anced  and  a  clear  one,  and  this  renders  his  writing 

151 


152  Edward   Hodges 


on  subjects  we  do  not  really  understand  delightful 
to  read.  We  are  content  to  follow  and  be  led  by 
him.  Many  learned  men  make  a  subject  appear 
difficult  and  confused  to  us  ;  not  so  my  Father. 
With  him  we  see,  and  by  his  eye  we  read.  It  is 
just  the  difference  between  a  profundity  which  is 
impenetrable  and  muddy,  and  the  clear  dash  of  the 
mountain  stream.  Where  it  stops  in  the  deep  hol- 
lows of  the  rocks,  it  is  pellucid,  and  clear,  and  sky- 
reflectinof,  and  we  are  content  to  s^aze  into  it,  or  to 
follow  it  to  the  shore  of  profound  thought,  open,  as 
he  says,  to  His  eye,  ''Who  knoweth  all  things." 

I  quote  from  the  Diary  so  early  as  August,  1825. 
My  Father  had  been  suffering  from  great  depres- 
sion  of  mind.  He  had  given  a  lesson  in  Thorough 
Bass  before  breakfast,  but  after  that  he  says : 

"  My  day  was  good  for  nothing.  My  usual  flow  of 
spirits  was  gone,  and  I  was  altogether  miserable." 

He  was  one  of  those  whom  Keble  describes  as 

"  By  nature  strung  too  high, 
By  suffering  brought  too  low." 

His  Diary  continues  : 

"  In  the  evening  I  walked  out  alone  on  the  turnpike 
road  above  Park  St.,  and  as  I  walked  I  meditated,  and 
became  more  tranquil.  Then  I  sought  to  apply  my  mind 
to  some  useful  topic,  and  adverted  to  the  received  princi- 
ples and  notation  of 


1  ,■>    5,, 


■til    ■>  ■) 


■>■>■>■> 
>      ■>    •> 
:>    •)      ■>  5 


>     i  5  J    1 


'   1  3      5 

ill  5 


5       . 


1  ■) 


U 


«5 

a 


<    c 
f  f  r 


;  r  f 


r  <•      r  r   r 


(    f 
r    c 


My  Father's  Musical  Work  153 


THOROUGH    BASS. 


'*  It  has  frequently  occurred  to  me,  that  as  at  present 
taught  and  practised,  the  Science  (if  it  can  be  so  desig- 
nated) is  a  confused  mass  of  barbarous  dogmas,  its  very- 
first  principles  being  as  yet  very  unsettled.  One  writer 
contends  this  way  and  another  that,  which  surely  could 
no  longer  be  the  case,  were  the  rules  laid  down,  founded 
in  nature  and  in  truth. 

''  Rameau,  in  his  dogma  of  the  existence  and  stated 
progression  of  one  grand  fundamental  bass,  did  much  to 
check  the  progress  of  research  and  restrain  the  flight  of 
genius. 

"  Still  this  was  entirely  independent  of  the  figuring  or 
notation,  except  in  so  far  as  it  may  have  induced  him  to 
give  to  certain  disputable  combinations,  certain  deter- 
minate roots  from  which  would  follow  certain  resolutions 
(as  in  the  case  of  the  added  sixth,  which,  though  by  the 
best  masters  made  to  ascend,  yet,  according  to  his  theory, 
must,  I  apprehend,  remain  stationary).  De  gustibus  noft 
disputandum  est.  Music  is  unquestionably  a  matter  of 
taste,  but  when  a  man  has  a  system  in  his  head,  may  not 
he  make  his  taste  bend  to  his  theory? 

*'  Methinks  there  is  always  great  danger  in  systematising 
rapidly  in  the  infancy  of  a  science,  and  tho'  the  practice 
of  Music  has  attained  a  wonderful  degree  of  perfection, 
the  science,  even  now,  I  consider  to  be  but  little  farther 
advanced  than  its  childhood, 

*'  In  suggesting  therefore  new  principles,  I  would  wish 
to  do  so  with  caution,  and  to  consider  nothing  as  estab- 
lished, but  what  is  susceptible  of  some  sort  of  proof. 

"  I  have  two  things  in  contemplation  relative  to  this 
subject:  First,  A  new  Theory  of  Fiindameiital Basses,  and 
secondly,  a  7iew  Notation. 

**  Rameau,  in  insisting  dogmatically  that  every  musical 


154  Edward  Hodges 


chord  has  its  fundamental  bass,  only  went  a  little  too  far. 
If  he  had  simply  asserted  that  many,  perhaps  even  most 
of  them  have,  he  would  not  have  advanced  anything 
objectionable,  or  which  could  not  have  been  proved. 
But  in  striving  to  carry  his  favourite  theory  through- 
out, he  had  to  combat  with  progressions  which  the 
nicest  ear,  and  the  strictest  judgment,  and  the  purest 
taste    approve. 

**  The  fact  is,  that  laws  in  science  are  laid  down  as  the 
result  of  experience.  Our  experience  has  enlarged,  our 
laws  are  still  contracted.  Hence  the  outcry  against  the 
Schools,  and  the  danger  of  utter  insubordination  to  all 
classical  authority.  Even  the  '  mighty  Masters  *  have,  in 
the  weakness  of  their  great  minds,  occasionally  descended 
to  speak  contemptuously  of  the  laws  of  their  Art,  and 
feeling  the^nselves  above  the  region  of  the  Schools,  have 
falsely  inferred  that  they  were  at  liberty  to  pronounce 
them  useless  to  everyone. 

"But  I  am  wandering.  If  I  can  elicit  the  principle 
upon  which  (unknown  perhaps  to  their  respective 
authors)  the  latest  and  best  innovations  upon  the  old 
practice  have  been  founded,  I  shall  go  not  a  little  way 
towards  reducing  to  some  order  the  confusion  into  which 
the  science  has  been  thrown,  and  perhaps  adding  yet 
more  to  the  stock  of  materials  out  of  which  good  music 
may  hereafter  be  constructed. 

**  I  say  then,  let  it  be  supposed  possible  for  a  chord  to 
have  tzvo  real  fundamental  basses,  or  even  more.  It  is 
but  to  refer  to  the  well-known  7,  6^^,  4,  2,  to  be  satisfied 
that  it  will  easily  explain  what  else  is  left  enveloped  in 
the  mystery  of  creative  genius.  This  supposed  case  will 
resolve  all  the  old  dogmas  of  preparation  and  resolution, 
seeing  the  teachers  thereby  implicitly  laid  down  the  rule, 
that  no  chord  having  two  basses  should  be  allowed,  un- 
less so  much  of  them  as  belonged  to  ihQ  previous  bass  had 


My  Father's  Musical  Work  155 


been  previously  heard.  So  far  good  ;  but  when  the  ears 
of  the  public  had  been  sufificiently  accustomed  to  these 
discords  in  a  prepared  state,  the  Masters  dished  them  up 
unprepared. 

"  I  am  not  prepared  to  say  to  what  consequences 
infringement  of  established  rule  may  lead,  though  I  fear 
it  tends  to  the  destruction  of  sound  composition, 
whether  or  not,  it  makes  a  new  code  necessary,  and  a 
dissertation  to  show  how  far  the  practice  may  be  extended 
with  safety.  This  code  I  apprehended  must  be  founded 
on  the  admission  of  the  principle  that  there  are  two 
fundamental  basses.  Then  the  explanation  of  the  f,  f,  |, 
etc.,  will  be  easily  intelligible,  and  much  of  the  mystifica- 
tion of  modern  dogmatism  will  be  annihilated. 

"  I  will  not  enlarge  further  upon  this  branch  of  the 
subject  at  present,  but  proceed  to  the  subject  of  Notation 
as  far  as  Thorough  Bass  is  concerned. 

*'  Here  we  have  intricacies  enough.  We  have  first  a 
string  of  figures,  and  then  their  qualifications,  of  '+s,  ^s,  3s, 
all  to  be  read  at  a  glance,  and  as  instantly  played,  all 
along  bearing  in  mind  the  signature  at  the  clef.  This  is 
enough  to  puzzle  any  brain,  and  although  I  have  myself 
mastered  the  difificulties,  I  always  feel  for  a  young  person 
just  entering  upon  them. 

''  Now  as  all  the  received  combinations,  though  many, 
are  composed  but  of  very  few  elementary  intervals,  I 
thought  of  substituting  for  the  mass  of  figures  with  their 
attendants,  certain  arbitrary  characters  or  signs,  to  each 
of  which  shall  be  attached  the  idea  of  some  given  interval. 
And  as  the  chords  are  composed  of  these  few  intervals, 
the  signs  of  the  chords,  or  the  Thorough  Bass  notation 
(which  is  after  all,  merely  a  musical  short-hand)  shall  be 
in  like  manner  compounded  of  these  characters.  So  if  a 
combination  consist  of  a  major  third  or  perfect  fifth 
(which    is  a    minor   third  above  the  major  before  men- 


15^  Edward   Hodges 


tioned,)  and  a  'f^,  which  is  still  a  minor  third  above  the 
fifth)  the  sign  or  notation  of  the  chord  would  be  first  that 
of  a  major  third,  then  that  of  a  minor  third  above  it 
(making  together  a  fifth),  and  still  above  that  another 
minor  third.  Here  the  student  would  have  before  his 
eyes  the  whole  composition  of  the  chord  displayed,  be 
the  key  what  it  might. 

"  On  my  return  home,  I  devised  some  characters,  but 
as  they  were  hastily  sketched,  I  found  some  objections 
arise  in  compounding  them.  I  shall  however  {^Deo  volente) 
return  to  this  subject  at  some  future  time.  I  calculate 
that  not  more  than  six  or  eight  characters  are  necessary." 

"  Jan.  12,  1826. 

"  7,  as  a  Musical  Prime. 

**  I  was  all  day  busily  engaged  in  studying  the  relations 
of  musical  sounds  as  developed  upon  a  Monochord,  and 
graduating  a  scale  upon  that  instrument  to  afford  facilities 
for  future  investigation. 

"  The  more  I  reflect  upon  the  exclusion  of  the  number 
7  from  musical  primes,  and  the  oftener  I  hear  the  effect 
of  the  employment  of  that  number,  the  more  thoroughly 
I  am  convinced  of  the  injustice  of  that  exclusion. 

"  I  have  consulted  Dr.  Smith  and  Malcolm,  yet  does 
not  their  statement  of  reasons  convince  me.  The  latter 
says  the  result  is  inharmonious.  I  contradict  it.  That  it 
is  natural,  the  French  Horn,  Trumpet  and  Monochord 
abundantly  demonstrate. 

"  Engaged  in  these  thoughts,  I  entered  deeply  into 
calculations,  though  as  yet  without  any  regular  method. 

"  I  look  for  some  way  of  perfecting,  or  nearly  perfect- 
ing, the  scale  by  the  help  of  this  same  unfortunate  num- 
ber;  and  I  have  great  hopes  of  introducing  it  into  practice 
by  means  of  the  Organ. 


My  Father's  Musical  Work  157 


"  Hague  came  in  whilst  I  was  engaged  in  this  specula- 
tion, and  (as  I  should  myself  have  done  not  very  long  ago) 
contended  that  a  good  ear  only  was  necessary  to  a  good 
musician,  and  that  all  such  mysterious  calculations  were 
good  for  nothing.  But  in  the  particular  object  of  my 
research  this  is  not  true.  There  is  no  singer  who  makes  a 
perfect  flat  seventh^  and  the  reason  seems  to  be  the  con- 
tinual reference  in  the  early  stages  of  vocal  tuition  to  the 
fixed  tones,  notes  or  sounds  of  some  instrument.  There 
is  not  one  performer  in  a  hundred  who  has  ever  even 
heard  the  interval,  except  perhaps  from  a  Trumpet  or 
French  Horn  by  accident,  and  then  he  has  been  universally 
taught  to  consider  it  as  a  note  out  of  tune,  '  a  false  note.' 
Where  the  ears  have  been  thus  trained,  little  is  to  be 
expected  but  determined  opposition  to  innovation. 

"  If  however  I  can  succeed  in  forming  a  scale  easy  of 
introduction  upon  keyed  instruments,  and  employ  this 
forbidden  ratio,  I  may  steal  a  march  upon  their  ears,  and 
convince  their  judgment  through  the  medium  of  sense. 

"  I  do  not  however  anticipate  the  accomplishment  of 
so  much  without  a  world  of  pains  and  trouble. 

"  At  a  little  before  three  I  walked  out,  and,  as  yester- 
day, gained  the  summit  of  Brandon  Hill,  took  a  pinch  of 
snuff,  and  came  down  again.  I  afterwards  went  into  the 
cathedral  and  heard  part  of  the  Service,  but  my  head  was 
literally  all  '  sixes  and  sevens.'  If  it  goes  on  at  this  rate 
I  shall  be  in  danger  of  becoming  mathematical ! 

"  All  the  evening  I  was  occupied  upon  the  same  topic, 
and  it  did  not  forsake  me  even  in  bed.  I  begin  to  be 
even  expert  in  compounding  ratios,  though  I  find  I  must 
do  it  my  own  way. 

"  When  I  look  into  other  writers  upon  the  subject,  they 
seem  to  me  very  muddy  :  diffuse  where  they  ought  to  be 
explicit,  and  explicit,  or  rather  unintelligible,  where  they 
ought  to  be  diffuse  and  explanatory.     I  hope  to  be  able 


15^  Edward  Hodges 


to  make  these  things  plainer  to  those  who  shall  come 
after  me. 

"  Jan.  13th. 

*'  Immediately  after  breakfast  Wilkins  took  his  lesson. 

1  explained  to  him,  after  I  had  examined  his  exercise,  the 
leading  doctrines  of  Harmonics,  and  demonstrated  them 
to  him  on  the  Monochord.  This  lesson  seemed  to  pro- 
duce a  prodigious  impression  on  his  mind,  which  probably 
never  will  be  erased.  He  will  certainly  not  rest  till  he 
has  a  Monochord  of  his  own.  After  his  departure  I  con- 
tinued my  speculations  and  operations  upon  the  Mono- 
chord,  and  before  night  completed  graduated  scales  for 
dividing  a  string  into  2,  3,4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  10,  ii,  12,  13,  14, 
15,  16,  18,  20,  and  21  partsorany  multiple  of  either  of  them. 

"  In  this  I  have  adopted  what  is  perhaps  an  original 
method.  To  avoid  the  confusion  of  so  many  subdivisions 
in  one  scale,  I  have  made  longitudinal  partitions,  and  kept 

2  and  its  multiples  (or  sub-multiples)  in  one  line,  3  and  its 
attendants  on  a  second,  5  and  its  disciples  on  a  third,  7 
and  its  outlawed  companions  in  a  fourth,  and  11,  and  13 
in  a  still  further  detached  position,  yet  so  as  to  be  all 
under  command  for  experimenting  on  a  single  string. 

"  In  consequence  of  my  directions  we  had  fish  for  din- 
ner, a  regulation  which  is  to  be  observed  on  succeeding 
Fridays. 

"  To-day  I  thought  of  embodying  my  musical  matters  in 
the  shape  of  an  appendix  to  Dr.  Calcott's  Musical  Grammar. 
That  work  as  far  as  it  goes  is  very  good  ;  but  it  contains  no 
more  than  the  orthography  of  the  language,  or  at  farthest, 
the  declensions  of  the  nouns  and  conjugation  of  the  verbs. 
The  syntax  is  wanting.  This  deficiency  I  think  I  may 
supply.  Calcott  has  not  touched  upon  the  Laws  of  Com- 
position ;  neither   has   he   a    syllable    upon    Harmonics. 


My  Father's  Musical  Work  159 


Thus  the  two  extremes  of  the  system  he  has  altogether 
avoided. 

**  I  was  all  the  evening  at  my  Monochordial  calcula- 
tions till  my  head  was  fairly  confused. 

"  Jan.  14th. 

'*  Still  it  rivets  my  attention.  De  Boudry  accompanied 
me  to  a  book-seller's  to  look  for  some  tables  of  Logarithms, 
to  employ  them  in  my  musical  calculations." 

•'  In  my  Study ^  Nov.  6,  iSjS- 

"  Mrs.  Butterworth  and  her  daughters  attended  me  at 
eleven  o'clock,  and  had  a  further  lecture  upon  Harmonics. 
They  seem  to  comprehend  the  drift  of  my  chapter  (in  the 
*  Tentamen  '  *  )  upon  the  '  Natural  Derivation  of  In- 
tervals '  very  well  indeed.  I  fancy  that  I  really  have 
succeeded  in  making  perfectly  intelligible  to  ordinary 
capacities  and  ordinary  attention,  a  subject  hitherto  treated 
so  universally  in  an  abstruse  manner  as  to  be,  as  it  were, 
completely  locked  up  from  the  great  bulk  of  even  musical 
people.  This  may  encourage  me  to  proceed  with  the 
work,  which  I  have  so  long  intermitted." 

*  To  my  great  regret  this  valuable  and  much-needed  work  on  Thorough 
Bass  has  not  yet  been  found  amongst  my  Father's  effects. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


MY    FATHERS    ANTHEMS. 


"  In  the  beginning  was  the  Word." 

1829. 

THIS  Anthem  conveys  —  as  do  all  of  my 
Father's — by  even  a  cursory  study,  this  di- 
rect impression  :  that  before  he  put  a  pen  stroke 
on  paper,  he  had  a  clear  and  full  conception  of  the 
whole  subject  in  his  mind,  not  only  technically,  as 
to  the  art  of  composition,  but  of  the  higher  art  of 
conception  of  an  Idea.  He  had  a  wide  mental 
field,  and  on  it  he  erected  his  visual  structure. 

The  Anthem  is  in  the  key  of  C,  f  time.  It  opens 
piano  and  crescendo  on  the  simple  bass  octave,  the 
pedal  bass  C  remaining  steady  for  fourteen  bars, 
including  the  introductory  six  bars  by  the  organ. 
The  upper  part  of  this  ascends  chromatically  with 
harmony,  to  the  middle  C.  Here  the  voices  all 
come  in  very  softly,  "  In  the  beginning"  in  octave 
and  unison,  but  follow  up  the  course  indicated  to 


160 


My  Father's  Anthems  .161 


the  next  octave,  arriving  at  the  C  to  give  emphasis 
to  the  words,  "  The  Word  was  God"  (^).  These 
words  once  repeated  in  unison  and  octave,  carry 
the  treble  to  G,  the  accompaniment  being  bold  and 
effective,  while,  the  climax  being  reached,  the  im- 
pression left  is  as  grand  as  it  is  satisfactory. 

This  development, — capable  of  any  degree  of 
fulness — though  not  resembling  Haydn's  "  Fiat 
Lux"  in  the  Creation,  bears  a  striking  Hkeness  to 
it  in  conception.  Haydn's  is  an  immediate  burst 
of  Light.  This  has  preparation.  It  has  been  fore- 
told, and  comes  gradually.  It  certainly  needs  Or- 
chestral accompaniment  to  bring  out  the  effects, 
which  lie  hidden  within  it.  It  is  easy  to  believe 
that,  even  here,  my  Father  did  not  give  full  sway 
to  his  conception,  although  there  is  sufficient  to 
indicate  its  nature,  as  far  as  he  has  revealed  it ;  and 
while  reverently  yielding  to  his  favourite  master^ 
Haydn,  and  not  improbably  taking  an  idea  from 
him,  yet  the  leading  thought  was  also  his  own,  and 
no  doubt  carried  him  farther,  and  wider,  and 
higher  ;  as  he  contemplated  not  the  illumination  of 
our  universe  alone,  but  the  Eternal  Heavenly^ 
Radiance  of  the  **  Light  of  the  World." 

The  second  movement  (in  ordinary  tempo,  in 
C,  marked  Gt.  Diapasons),  "  And  the  Word  was 
made   Flesh,"  consists  of  an  interesting,  thorough 


162  Edward  Hodges 


little  Fugue  in  A  Minor,  exceedingly  pleasant  to 
sing,  and  having  an  Obligato  Bass  accompaniment. 
The  Bass  leads  in  the  Fugue,  which  proceeds  regu- 
larly, and  the  movement,  ending  on  the  dominant 
major,  introduces  a  still  longer  and  more  elaborate 
and  spirited  Fugue,  *'We  beheld  His  Glory,"  the 
tempo  a  little  faster.     The  Alto  leads. 

Some  striking  effects  are  produced  in  this  move- 
ment by  the  union  of  voices,  rather  staccato^  "  We 
beheld,"  and  by  the  introduction  of  solo  passages, 
which  add  beauty  to  it,  as  well  as  relief  at  the 
words,  "  The  Glory  as  of  the  only  Begotten  of  the 
Feather."  These  words  carry  a  second  subject, 
which  rather  accompanies  the  first  than  is  strictly 
worked  out  itself. 

It  is  only  by  the  silent  study  of  such  a  movement 
as  this  in  my  Father's  works  that  his  intellectual 
power  can  be  known  ;  just  as  in  playing  or  listen- 
ing to  the  noble  Fugues  of  Bach's  '' Wohltemper- 
irte,"  the  mind  refuses,  being  unable,  to  follow  the 
beautiful  working  of  the  parts,  filled  as  it  is  with 
the  dazzling  harmony  of  the  whole  ;  or,  it  may  be 
that  the  unity,  power,  and  beauty  of  the  whole, 
render  it  impossible  to  divide  the  mind  into  a  true 
perceptiveness  of  the  several  parts. 

This  movement  is  virtually  the  conclusion  of 
the   Anthem  ;    the   two  subjects    now  work   faith- 


My  Father's  Anthems  163 


fully  together  ;  the  spirited  flow  of  them  only 
once  broken  by  a  unity  of  vocalization  on  a  for- 
tissimo passage.  The  conscientiousness  of  this 
Fugue  work  is  somewhat  marvellous,  both  as  a 
study  and  an  example,  the  accompaniment  follow- 
ing rigidly  the  vocal  parts.  A  working  through 
them  is  at  last  gained,  by  a  hold  of  four  bars  on  the 
dominant  bass,  and  the  end  is  reached  at  ^  grand 
fortissimo,  where  unity  is  given  to  the  whole  by 
the  free  accompaniments  being  the  same  as  stood 
by  ''The  Word  was  God"  at  the  beginning,  and 
now  giving  grandeur  and  finish  to  the  end  at  the 
words,  ''  Full  of  grace  and  truth." 

But  there  follows,  what  is  the  middle  part  ;  a  slow 
quartette  In  C  Minor,  unaccompanied,  ''  For  the 
law  was  given  to  Moses,"  followed  by  the  words, 
*'  But  grace  and  truth  came  by  Jesus  Christ."  The 
smooth  and  graceful  phrase  which  expresses  these 
words  is  remarkable  for  this,  that  it  really  seems  to 
enforce  a  reverent  expression  and  bow  of  the  head 
at  the  pronunciation  of  the  Holy  Name.  It  speaks 
alike  for  the  reverential  tone  of  my  Father  s  mind, 
and  for  the  due  attention  he  gave  to  words  and 
accent,  that  attention,  in  some  later  writers  for  the 
Church,  being  much  neglected,  or  made  subservient 
to  the  flow  of  musical  ideas,  not  always  appropriate 
to  them. 


164  Edward  Hodges 


I  hardly  know  whether  this  beautiful  movement 
would  be  called  a  Fugue  or  Imitation  ;  at  any  rate, 
the  one  pervading  phrase  is  taken  by  all  parts, 
sometimes  three  at  once,  sometimes  inverted,  and 
displaying  what  Samuel  Wesley  called  **  great  inge- 
nuity "  ;  but  the  words  would  be  worthless  and 
have  no  meaning,  unless  the  thought,  bearing  the 
intellectual  and  artistic  work  in  itself,  expressed  a 
loftier  sentiment.  The  second  Fugue  "  And  we 
behold  His  glory  "  is  returned  to,  and  the  Anthem 
is  finished. 

Of  a  beautiful  Anthem  composed  in  1851  my 
Father  writes  : 

''Decs. 
*'  I  at  length  made  a  beginning  of  the  Composition  of 
an  Anthem  (from   Ps.  cxxxiv)    for    the   Consecration  of 
the  Assistant  Bishop  of  New  York.     Poor  stuff !  " 

The  anthem  was,  however,  not  used  until  the 
opening  service  of  the  General  Convention,  which 
was  held  in  Trinity  Church,  October  5,  1853.  This 
was  one  of  the  ''  grand  services  "  of  old  Trinity.  I 
quote  from  one  of  the  papers  of  the  day  : 

"  There  could  not  have  been  many  short  of  3000  per- 
sons present.  In  the  procession  of  Bishops  nearly  every 
State  was  represented,  Bishop  Boone  of  China,  the  ex- 
Bishop  of  Madras,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Spencer,  with  Bishop 
Brownell,  taking  the  ante-Communion  Service.  The  Ven. 
Archdeacon  of  Middlesex,  Dr.  Sinclair,  read  the  Litany ;: 


My  Father's  Anthems  165 


after  which  the  looth  Psalm  (*  With  one  consent ')  was 
sung. 

"  At  this  time  the  Chancel  presented  a  very  imposing 
appearance,  the  sunlight  streamed  through  the  stained 
windows  in  its  south  side,  and  rays  of  blended  gold,  crim- 
son, purple  and  ruby,  fell  in  haloes  around  the  heads  and 
forms  of  the  Bishops,  many  of  whom  presented  an  ex- 
ceedingly venerable  appearance.  It  was  a  scene  worthy 
the  inspired  pencil  of  a  Raphael  or  a  Titian. 

"  The  music  was  uncommonly  fine  ;  Dr.  Hodges,  of 
course,  presided  at  the  Organ,  and  he  had  about  him  a 
choir  of  over  thirty  singers.  The  Te  Deum  and  Jubilate 
were  Nares  in  C,  and  were  given  with  great  force  and 
effect.  The  Old  Hundreth  filled  the  whole  church  with 
such  a  truly  congregational  volume  of  vocal  praise  as  has 
rarely  been  surpassed.  The  Anthem  by  Dr.  Hodges  him- 
self was  a  beautiful  composition.  The  call  to  '  Praise  the 
Lord,'  starting  with  a  single  male  voice,  went  on  increas- 
ing in  number  and  power  until  the  full  chorus  burst  forth, 
*  Lift  up  your  hands  in  the  Sanctuary  and  Praise  the 
Lord.'  The  final  *  Hallelujah,  Amen  '  was  the  crowning 
beauty." 

Speaking  of  his  composition,  he  says  in  his 
Diary : 

"Fed.  25,  i8s3- 

*'  My  slowness  of  composition  is  most  lamentable.  So 
I  presume  it  will  be  always,  unless  I  can  secure  more 
consecutive  time  for  study,  and  greater  privacy  than  I 
now  enjoy  when  engaged  in    composition. 

**  How  often  do  I  think  with  regret  of  my  beautiful  old 
Study  in  the  Cloister  at  Bristol,  with  its  delightful  seclu- 
sion  I 


1 66  Edward  Hodges 


Yes  ;  there  was  a  vast  difference  between  the 
old  ''Study  in  the  Cloisters"  and  his  small  one  in 
his  New  York  home.  It  is  noticeable  that  all  my 
Father's  elaborate  works  or  compositions,  consist- 
ing of  full  Anthems,  of  whole  Psalms,  and  all  those 
composed  for  events  in  the  Royal  Family,  date 
from  the  Cloisters.  No  wonder  that  he  recalled 
"its  delightful  seclusion." 

From  his  deep  bay  window  he  saw  nothing 
but  the  trees  and  broad  walks  of  the  Bishop's 
garden  ;  at  the  other  end — for  the  room  extended 
the  whole  depth  of  the  house — were  the  Cloisters, 
and  the  rarely-broken  quiet  of  the  Cathedral  close. 

In  this  study,  he  formed  a  picture  himself.  I 
can  see  him  now  in  my  mind's  eye  as  he  stood  at 
his  high  desk,  writing,  clothed  in  his  long,  black 
velvet  study  gown,  his  unique,  and,  to  me,  always 
beautiful  and  intellectual  head  bent  forward  as  he 
wrote.  How  soft  and  wavy  his  hair  rose  from  his 
temples !  No  matter  how  the  aspect  of  that 
Musseum-like  room  affected  you,  with  its  wall-lining 
of  book-shelves,  its  bits  of  classic  sculpture,  its 
musical  curiosities,  its  piano-forte  (standing  bravely 
out  in  the  centre ;  on  it,  Horn's  Edition  of  BacJi) 
and  its  other  attractions  of  study  or  comfort,  you 
would  pass  them  all  by,  and  your  attention  would  be 
fixed  on  that  standing,  reverent  figure  at  the  desk. 


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t    t  tt 

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My  Father's  Anthems  167 

I  always  knew  when  my  Father  was  engaged  on 
a  musical  work.  There  was  an  abstraction  about 
even  his  manner  ;  I  had  an  innate  feeling  that  I 
must  not  disturb  him.  His  desire  for  solitude  was 
as  marked  then,  as  was  his  love  for  social  pleasure 
at  other  times  when  his  mind  was  free. 

When  composing,  it  was  never  possible  to  get 
any  idea  of  his  work,  he  touched  the  piano  so 
seldom.  As  a  child  I  was  impressed  with  the 
marvellous  grandeur  of  the  final  rendering,  when 
the  whole  work  seemed  to  have  been  perfected  in 
that  maeic  silence  and  seclusion.  This  struck  me 
forcibly  in  his  noble  translation  of  the  136th 
Psalm  ;  I  marvelled  how  in  the  unbroken  quiet,  day 
after  day,  night  after  night,  a  labour  of  such  power 
and  magnitude  could  have  been  brought  into  ex- 
istence. I  might  have  heard  little  suggestions  of  it, 
a  scrap  of  fugue,  or  a  thought,  unknowing  that  it 
was  a  thought ;  but  of  its  entirety  I  had  no  notion 
until  it  burst  upon  me  as  a  whole,  in  its  grand  verse 
and  antiphon. 

The  Anthem,  ''  For  His  mercy  endureth  for 
ever,"  which  was  composed  at  Bristol,  is  a  prince 
among  my  Father's  anthems ;  and  I  remember 
listening  to  his  large  band  of  amateur  singers  and 
friends,  and  being  arrested  by  his  original  way  of 
disposing  of  "  Sehon,  King  of  the  Amorites,  and 


1 68  Edward   Hodges 


Og,  the  King  of  Bashan,"  which  he  put  to  the 
Grand  Chant  by  Humphrey,  while  the  fine  anti- 
phon  in  the  chorus  was  not  interrupted  in  its 
course. 

I  do  not  wonder  my  Father  recalled  his  old 
study  with  regret. 

His  power  over  people  was  very  marked. 
Nervously  quick  and  full  of  musical  irritability,  he 
was  patience  itself,  and  nothing  but  kindness  and 
goodness  could  come  from  his  heart.  But  it  was 
not  so  much  the  latter  characteristics  as  his  power, 
his  knowledge,  his  precision,  his  own  highly  gifted 
natural  self  that  won  the  field,  and  made  all  who 
approached  him,  willing  and  whole-hearted  ad- 
mirers. How  his  brilliant  eyes  would  flash!  and 
though  always  clear  in  explaining  a  difificult  pas- 
sage, how  impetuously  and  imperiously  he  would 
dash  through  intricacies  intelligibly  and  unfalter- 
ingly, as  though  saying  ''  This  has  to  be  doney 
whether  you  will  or  no,"  and  through  it  would  go. 
They  saw  the  Master  in  him,  in  the  flash  of  his 
eye  ;  heard  it  in  the  ring  of  his  voice,  and  felt  it  in 
the  swift  and  unerring  mastery  of  his  Fugues,  from 
the  announcement  of  the  text  or  "subject,"  until 
the  exhaustive  and  magnificent  close. 

I  find  in  his  Diaries  very  much  that  would  be  of 
interest  to  composers  ;  little  items  connected  with 


My  Father's  Anthems  169 


Fugue  subjects  ;  notes  of  times  when  it  is  easiest 
to  write,  etc.  For  himself  he  decides  that  midnight 
is  the  best  time  when,  from  the  surrounding  silence 
and  his  own  solitude,  he  finds  his  ideas  flow  more 
easily. 

It  was  in  his  New  York  home  that  on  one  par- 
ticular occasion  I  heard  and  saved  that  succession 
of  chords  to  which  I  gave  the  name  of  "  My  Father's 
Midnight  Chant." 

The  evening  was  over  ;  stray  guests  had  departed, 
having  enjoyed  the  "  chat "  and  the  bread-and- 
cheese  and  ale  supper  ;  the  usual  hour  for  Evening 
Prayer  had  come,  and  gone,  and  the  last  foot-fall 
had  been  heard  on  the  stairs. 

Then  my  Father  retired  to  his  study,  as  was  his 
wont,  for  he  always  much  enjoyed  reading  alone. 
I  also  had  gone  to  my  own  room  above  his  study, 
and  after  a  time,  had  put  out  my  light. 

From  a  half-asleep  state,  I  was  brought  to  con- 
sciousness by  an  indistinct  sound  of  rich  and  beau- 
tiful harmonies,  which  seemed  to  suggest  a  picture 
of  a  still  lake  over  which  organ-chords  were  floating 
from  some  half-hidden  monastery  chapel.  I  at  last 
realised  the  truth.  "  It  is  my  Father's  midnight 
music ! 

I  quickly  jumped  up,  struck  a  light,  and  ere  he 
had  gone  from  the  fascinating  chords,  I  had  them 


1 70  Edward   H  odges 


written  down.  I  am  sure  the  modulations  must 
have  given  him  pleasure,  or  he  never  would  have 
repeated  them  often  enough  for  me  to  write  them. 
They  are  very  grand ;  and  he  seemed  to  have 
more  than  two  handfuls  of  splendidly-distributed 
harmony.  I  had  them  safe  before  my  eyes  ;  and 
when  he  had  finished  his — to  me — unrivalled  and 
unsurpassable  excursions  into  fields  of  unworldly 
sound,  he  sang,  as  usual,  his  **  Nunc  Dimittis," 
came  softly  up  stairs  and  passed  my  door.  Then 
he  quietly  closed  his  own,  and  I  heard  the  click  of 
his  little  bolt. 

Then  I  thought  myself  to  sleep  on  the  question 
as  to  what  it  was  that  gave  so  unique  and  unsur- 
passable a  grandeur  and  beauty  to  my  Father's 
improvisations.  That  word,  however,  is  not  the 
right  one.  They  were  more  properly  meditatio^is. 
They  represented  trains  of  thought,  moods  of  the 
mind,  grades  of  deep  religious  emotion,  powers  of 
the  intellect  and  aspirations  of  the  spirit,  and  even 
seemed  to  express  the  relation  of  the  soul  to  the 
Great  Arbiter  of  our  destinies  in  some  state  of 
being  beyond  this  earth. 

There  was  something /^z/m^  and  speaking \}i\roM^ 
his  chords  and  modulations  and  consecutive, 
thoughtful  meditations  which  could  never  be  con- 
veyed  by   another.      Melodies   would   gleam    out 


My  Father's  Anthems  171 


here  and  there,  speak  to  each  other,  and  die  away 
in  the  environing  clouds  of  soft,  varied  harmony — 
Hke  sunset  hues — all  distinct,  and  blended  by  his 
perfect  finger-power  and  graduated  touch,  while 
suspicions  and  intimations  of  all  the  resources  of 
musical  art,  the  developments  of  science,  a  height 
of  imagination,  a  depth  of  feeling,  a  width  of  sym- 
pathy, were  all  condensed,  as  it  were,  into  one 
hour's  expression  in  the  night  time ;  a  time  when 
the  soul  withdraws  to  its  solitudey  so  truly  called 
"  The  Antechamber  of  the  Deity,"  when  *'  none 
but  God  is  near." 

And  it  was  this  exquisite  "finger-power"  that 
seemed  to  probe  the  depths  of  harmony  ;  to  search 
them,  and  exhaust  them,  bringing  to  the  surface  its 
reasons  and  its  meaning  in  a  way  and  with  a  power 
that,  to  my  mind,  no  other  hand  has  ever  possessed. 

He  said  to  me  once,  **the  grandest  music  has 
never  been  written."  So  he  taught  me  to  realize 
what  I  had  already  seen  in  him  :  the  consecrated 
gift,  and  its  ultimate  destiny  and  development. 

In  the  morning,  before  my  Father  had  come 
down,  I  put  the  MS.  on  his  desk.  He  sat  down 
and,  looking  at  it,  said,  "What's  this?"  He 
played  it,  and  continued,  ''It,  \s  bad /  These  are 
perfect  fifths ! " 

Evidently  he  had  no  remembrance  of  it  at  all  : 


172  Edward  Hodges 


while  I,  having  written  It  under  the  fear  that  he 
would  stop  playing,  or  roam  yet  farther  away,  when 
I  should  lose  it  altogether,  had  to  get  it  down  as 
quickly  as  I  could,  the  modulations  being  so  close 
and  unexpected.  The  fifths  had  come  from  this 
cause,  and,  of  course,  were  mine.  I  knew  the 
chords  were  rich  and  substantial,  and  they  were  his 
own :  and  I  am  thankful  I  rescued  them. 

When  he  was  composing  the  Anthem  ''  I  was 
glad''  (Ps.  cxxii)  for  the  consecration  of  Trinity 
Chapel,  I  noticed  how  rarely,  and  especially  how 
softly,  he  touched  his  piano-forte  :  just  a  thought 
or  a  suggestion  of  a  phrase  would  come  now  and 
then  ;  and  what  a  treat  it  was  when  he  would  play 
a  movement  entire  ! 

A  remark,  made  only  lately  by  one  of  his  warm 
appreciators,  is  singularly  true  : 

''Your  Father  wrote  for  Scholars." 

Very  truly,  my  Father  wrote  "for  Scholars,"  so 
far  as  intellectual  acquirements  of  a  high  grade  are 
perceptible  in  his  music.  He  believed  and  taught, 
that  the  intellect  should  be  used  in  the  Praise  of 
God  as  much  as  the  emotions  and  aspirations  of 
the  soul  and  spirit.  He  believed  it  to  be,  perhaps, 
God's  greatest  gift,  to  be  consecrated  to  Divine 
Worship  in  every  avenue  of  its  development  and 


My  Father's  Anthems  173 


thought.  My  great,  CathoHc-minded,  worshipful 
Father  !  While  he  could  soar  to  the  highest,  he 
could  stoop  to  the  lowest :  and  the  chief  reason 
why  we  do  not  hear  more  of  his  published  music 
is,  that  people  have  not  soul  enough  to  throw  into 
it  its  vital  spirit  of  devotion.  The  great  Bow  of 
prismatic  Light  and  Sound  spanning  the  archway 
between  the  heavenly  choirs  above  and  our  poor, 
Imperfect  attempts  here,  is  one  of  many  more 
colours  than  the  Rainbow  !  My  Father  seemed  to 
dream  of  it,  and  his  writings  give  but  slight  intima- 
tions of  the  soaring  thought  of  which  his  conse- 
crated Intellect  was  capable. 

He  did  truly  write  ''for  Scholars";  but  in  the 
great  field  outlying  the  range  of  intellectual  musical 
acquirement,  he  reigned  also  supreme.  Instance 
that  beautiful  and  touching  incident  of  the  little 
dying  boy,  *'Take  me  to  Trinity  Church,  that  I 
may  once  more  hear  Dr.  Hodges  play  '  Praise  the 
Lord,  O  my  soul!'"  and  remember  how  he  said, 
"  This  little  incident  has  given  me  more  pleasure 
than  any  commendation  I  have  ever  received," 
What  spirit  is  manifested  by  that  simple  confession, 
but  that  the  great  aim  of  all  his  acquirements  was 
reached?  He  had  drawn  one  soul  nearer  its 
Maker.  It  was  the  soul  of  a  little  child,  and  he 
did  not  despise  one  of  those  "  little  ones." 


174 


Edward  Hodges 


And  how  many  more  had  he  moved,  all  unknown 
to  himself,  as  his  spirit,  subtle  as  the  wind,  floated 
through  the  Church,  bearing  aloft  the  incense  of 
"prayer  or  praise,"  just  as  the  same  wind,  which 
the  Blessed  Saviour,  in  that  profound  midnight 
converse  with  the  Hebrew  Rabbi,  Himself  likened 
to  the  Spirit,  bears  away  on  its  breath  the  odours 
of  myriads  of  flowers  in  its  onward,  unseen  path. 


■<^^>^ 


CHAPTER  XV. 

MUSICAL    LIFE    IN    NEW    YORK. 

IN  that  alanthus-shaded  street  where  the  katy- 
dids and  tree-toads  chatted  and  argued  until 
the  day-dawn,  lived  the  strict  and  scholastic  Doctor, 
beloved  and  admired  by  all,  in  his  unrelenting  Eng- 
lish dignity  and  geniality. 

Yes  ;  and  as  the  street  was  made  lively  from  four 
in  the  morning  by  the  fruit-seller's  insistent  cries, 
he  would  rise  in  the  comparatively  early  coolness 
of  those  New  York  August  days,  and  play  his 
Fugue. 

It  was  on  the  23d  that  he  was  thus  early  at  the 
keys,  probably  minus  coat,  and  the  Fugue  of  course 
was  No.  23,  in  the  key  of  B,  Book  i. 

Not  yet  aroused  from  my  heavy  forgetfulness, 

untraceable    musical     thoughts     and     suggestions 

seemed  to  be   mixed  up  with  my  dreams.     I  did 

not  know  what  I  heard,  nor  where  I  was,  as  those 

streams    of   winding    melodies    and    harmoniously 

175 


i;^  Edward   Hodges 


flowing  modulations  passed  through  my  mind  At 
last  the  truth  fell  in  like  a  ray  of  light  and  I  real- 
ized all,  and  said,  "It  is  my  Father;  my  Father 
playing  his  Fugue  ! "  And  I  listened  in  a  state  of 
restful  and  intellectual  delight.  The  reality  was 
lovelier  far  than  the  dream,  and  the  sound  of  my 
Father's  fingers,  so  soft  and  masterly,  will  never 
pass  from  my  memory,  though  they  spoke  so  long 
ago. 

And  of  all  the  Fugues  so  dear  to  me,  there  is 
none  more  dear  than  23,  in  that  soothing,  lovely 
key  of  B,  as  it  spoke  to  me  on  that  morning. 

There  is  a  motion  and  a  freshness  in  the  air 
from  the  western  window  ;  a  glint  of  sunshine 
from  the  upper  blue  strikes  through  the  half-closed 
blind,  as  the  green  of  the  vine  is  revealed  on  the 
trellis  outside.  A  sun  ray  falls  athwart  his  desk, 
and,  lying  on  the  blotting  sheet  there,  the  eye 
catches  sight  of  a  small  home-made  book. 

It  lies  before  me  now,  though  nearly  forty  years 
have  passed  since  the  musician's  artistic  fingers 
constructed  it. 

It  consists  of  two  pieces  of  cardboard  neatly 
bound  with  a  piece  of  broad  twilled  tape,  and 
leaves  very  neatly  sewed  in  with  fine  string  ;  just 
such  an  artistic,  quaint  affair,  as  only  genius  would 


Musical  Life  in  New  York  177 


devise,    since    it    would    despise    a    shop-bought 
article. 

On  the  outside  cover  are  the  words  : 

"  M.  W.  Topics. 

Aug.  1856." 

and  inside  is  written 

**  Topics  for  possible  Articles 

in  the 

Musical   World, 

E.  H.,  Aug.  21,  1856. 

1.  Plain  Song Mch.  1857. 

2.  Gregorian  Tones Feb.  1857. 

3.  Numbers  and  Definite  Proportions       .      2,  3,  4,  &c. 

4.  Music  in  Common  Schools   .         .         •      (0 

5.  Organ  building. 

6.  Standard  Organ Sep.  1857. 

7.  Encouragement  of  Native  Talent. 

8.  Psalm  Tunes  in  C,  in  J  and  \  compared. 

9.  Individuality  in  performance         .         .       Jan.  1857. 
ID.  Grammar  of  Music. 

Declensions,  Government  of  cases,  &c. 

Touched  Oct.  1857. 

11.  Skill  in  playing,  not  tested  by  velocity  merely, 

12.  The  teaching  faculty     ....      June  1857. 

Self-taught  artists  and  teachers. 

13.  Sol-Fa  system. 

14.  Practical  Thorough-Bass. 

15.  Theoretical  Do (3  touched) 


12 


178  Edward  Hodges 


16.  Musical  Stenography. 

17.  Boston  Music  Hall  and  Organ. 

18.  Music  Committees         ....      June  1857. 

19.  Choir  Leaders. 

20.  (See  17.) 

21.  Music  Halls  in  general. 

22.  Ratio  of  expense  decreases  with  increase  of  magni- 

tude. 

23.  Vibrations,  Pulsations,  Undulations,  &c. 

Matter  of  Sound      .         .         .         Touched  4.  5. 

And  again. 

24.  Sir  Isaac  Newton  and  Prismatic  Music. 

25.  Music  of  Moschetoes  ! 

26.  Calliope  and  Steam  Music. 

27.  Polarized  Light,  and  analogy  with  sounds. 

28.  Elocution  and  Singing. 

Touched  by  R.  S.  W.  in  his  *  Spoken  Music' 

29.  Organ-grinding  nuisance. 

30.  Crotchets  and  Quavers. 

31.  Tones  and  Semi-tones. 

32.  Sesquialtera,  and  other  Organ  names. 

Mutation  Stops     .....       Sep.  1857. 
^^.     Clerical  interferences  not  always  beneficial. 

34.  Can  everj^  body  learn  to  sing  ? 

35.  Clefs.  (The  C  Clef.) 

36.  Isle  of  Serpents  ! 

37.  Salable  Compositions. 

Fashion  in  Church-world. 

38.  Audible  limits  of  Scale.     Birds.     Crickets. 

39.  Old  Hydraulic  Organ. 

40.  Music  of  Fishes. 

41.  Definition  of  Music  difficult. 

42.  Testimonials  to  men  and  things  given  too  readily. 

43.  Different     Systems    adapted     by    various      Music 

Teachers  in  public  Schools. 


Musical  Life  in  New  York  179 


44.  Attempts  at  New  Notation.     (Numerical  Notation.) 

45.  Metronomes  often  incorrect. 

46.  Concert  Criticism.     What  should  it  be  ? 

47'     Originality   in    Composition.      Possible     in    two    or 
three  notes  ? 

48.  Musical  Merchandize. 

49.  Music  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  ! 

50.  Elocution  physical. 

51.  Effect  of  Floss  paper  on  sound  in  a  dining-room. 

52.  N.  E.  Cornwall's  Book. 

53.  Positions  of  Choirs  in  Churches. 

54.  Sound    of   A.     Amen.  .         .         .      Dec.  1857. 

55.  Letters  in  participles. 

56.  Education  of  Boy  choristers. 

57.  Organist's  qualifications.     Playing  for  places. 

58.  Musical  publications,  dateless. 

59.  Congregational  Music.     Singing.  .      Oct.   1856. 

60.  Harmony,  large  or  small,  according  to  the  place  in 

the  Scale. 

61.  Instrument  Makers.     Players  (Fiddles,  Trombones) 

Need  of  proportion  and  accuracy. 

62.  Scale  of  Ten  Octaves,  I5f  to  32.000. 

63.  Negro  Voices;      National    Voices;      Effect  of   Cli- 

mate on  voices  ;     Boatman's  Songs. 

64.  Consecutive  5ths  and  8ves,  why  forbidden? 

65.  Counterpoint.         .....      Dec.   1856. 

66.  Punctuality  in  Concert  giving. 

^J.     Progress  of  Music  in  New  York,  in   the  last   ten  or 
fifteen  years  ;  from  G.  F.  Bristow. 

68.  Church      Bells.      Chiming,      Tolling, 

Ringing Oct.  1857. 

69.  Power  of  Association.  .         .         .       Jan.  1857. 

70.  Chaunting Feb.  1857. 

71.  Memory. 

72.  Rythm.  ....    Sep.    1857.     Partially. 


i8o 


Edward  Hodges 


73. 
74. 
75. 

77- 
78. 

79- 
80. 


Done,  See  48. 


81. 

82. 


83. 

84. 

85. 

86. 
87. 

88. 
89. 
90. 
91. 


92. 


Genius.     Invention. 

Originality.    ..... 

Chiroplasts,  and  teaching  machinery. 
Rehearsals. 

Musical  Associations  or  Societies. 
Key-note — the  final  Bass.     Why?       .      Apr.  1857. 
Character  of  Instruments  and   of  individual  instru- 
ments. 
E.  H.'s  Organ  Improvements. 

1.  Swell. 

2.  Pedals. 
Polyphonic  pipes. 
Typhus  Pedal. 
Piano-forte  Organ. 

Reviews  should  be  honest  and  independent. 
Voluntaries May  1857. 


3 
4 
5 


June  1857. 
June  1857. 
July  1857. 
July  1857. 
Aug.  1857. 


Psalm  Tunes. 
Interludes, 
Services. 
Anthems.     . 
Time.    . 
The  Praise  of  Musicke. 

Ordinary  and   Extraordinary  remuneration,  **  Musi- 
cal Emoluments." 
Social  standing  of    Musicians. 
Attempted   New  Notations.     E.  H.'s 

described Nov.  1857. 

Pitch  and  its  tide. 
The  Dot. 

Should  a  Church  Musician  receive  any  Salary? 
Mental  participation  of  or  Pecuniary 
aid  towards  Music,  say,  in  the 
worship  of  the  Devil  ? 
The  proper  and  most  effective  mode  <»»   Teaching. 
Also,  A  word  on  the  importance  of    Music. 


Sept.  1856. 
May.   1858. 


Musical  Life  in  New  York  i8i 


93-     Organ  Style  of  playing. 

94.  Genius  vs.  Manufacture. 

95.  Instrumentation  and  Orchestration. 

96.  Choral  Service. 

97.  Modulation. 

98.  Querstand. 

99.  Editorship  of  Collections,  Psalmody,  &c. 

100.  Orchestra         .         .         In  part  only.  1857. 

10 1.  Organs  as  Church  Furniture^ 

as  Church  Instruments, 
as  Orchestral         " 
as  Domestic  '* 

102.  Concerts  ;  Management,  Programmes,  Expenses. 

103.  Notation.     Complex.  .         .         .      Nov.  1857. 

104.  Whistling  ! ! ! 

105.  Out  of  Tune. 

106.  Prize  Compositions May,  1858." 


Subjects  not  before  Mentioned. 

*'i.  Harmonics. 

2.  Singing  and  Sand. 

3.  Study  and  Practice. 

4.  Progress  of  Music  in  the  Church.     Review  of  G.  F. 

Bristow. 

5.  Sympathy. 

6.  Pianology. 

7.  Suspensions. 

8.  Motives  for  Studying  Music. 

9.  The  New  and  the  Old. 
ID.  The  Old  and  the  New. 

11.  City  Hall  Bell. 

12.  Choral  Service.  ' 

13.  Anglican  Chaunt. 


1 82  Edward   Hodges 


14. 

Music  and  Morality. 

15. 

Plagal  Cadence. 

16. 

Keynote. 

!;■ 

Ancient  Choirs. 

18 

Modern  Choirs. 

19. 

Clerical  Management  of  Music. 

20. 

Choir  Places. 

21. 

Drums. 

22. 

Teeth. 

23- 

Taste. 

24. 

Musical  Legislation. 

25. 

Oratorios. 

26. 

Music  Committees. 

27- 

How  to  hear  Music. 

28 

Execution  and  Expression. 

29 

.     Clefs  or  Cliffs. 

30. 

Plain  Singing  and  Plain  Song. 

31- 

English  Cathedrals. 

32. 

Dr.  Tuckerman's  Lecture.      .         .      Dr.  Guilmette 

33 

.     Church  Organs.     Ordinary  Church  Organ. 

34 

.     Glance  at  Musical  Grammar. 

35 

.     A  Parable. 

36 

.     The  Mouse  and  the  Deacon. 

37 

.     Art  Encouragement. 

38 

.     How  to  shorten  Divine  Service. 

(All  published  in  the  Musical  World.) " 

In  the  lillle  booky  1  find  the  following  Auto- 
graph, which  may  be  of  interest  to  those  who 
cherish  the  memory  of  the  musical  clergyman,  as 
well  as  of  his  beloved  friend  the  clerical  organist. 


■>■>■> 


BRISTOL    CATHEDRAL. 


c  f  c    <  f      c    c 
C  (    r     f  rf     r 


c  f     r  f  V 


Musical  Life  in  New  York  i8^ 


J 


*'  Suggestions  for  the   Pen   of  '  H.'  in  the 

Musical  World. 

1.  Difference  between  musical  sentiment  and  devotional 

feeling. 

2.  Comparison  of  the  advantages  and  disadvantages  of 

singing  Chorales  in  Unison  or  in  Harmony. 


3.     Wherein  exists  the  peculiarity  of  Cathedral  Music. 


4.     The  little  which  English  Cathedrals  have  done  for 
Cathedral  Music. 


5.     Desirableness  of  clerical  skill  in  Music. 


6.     Departed  clerical  composers  and  clerical  organists. 


7.     The   superiority   of   Handel   in   the    Majesty,   and 
Beauty,  and  Independence  of  Accompaniment. 


8.     Charles  and  Sam.  Wesley  as  Extempore  Organists, 
with  Hints  on  Extempore  Organ-playing. 

Received  from  good  Mr.  Havergal,  July  2,  1857,  ^^^  ^ 
letter,  dated  Worcester,  June,  1857." 

My  Father  had  a  very  happy  and  original  way 
of  calling  us,  musically ^  easily  adapting  our  names 
to  a  phrase  in  melody  corresponding  to  them  in  its 
syllables  and  accent.  This  was  curiously  and  effec- 
tively tried  in  St.  John's  Chapel,  New  York,  one 
Sunday  morning  during  my  Father's  occupancy  of 


184  Edward  Hodges 


the  organ-stool  there,  prior  to  the  Consecration  of 
Trinity  Church. 

My  brother  had  taken  his  usual  seat  in  President 
Moore's  pew  in  the  middle  aisle,  and  I  was  with  my 
Father  in  the  organ  gallery.  It  was  now  the  usual 
time  for  him  to  play  the  first  voluntary  ;  and  calling 
my  attention,  he  said  to  me  *'  I  am  going  to  call 
Jubal.  Watch  him."  His  voluntary  proceeded  as 
thoughtfully  and  smoothly  as  usual  ;  in  the  course 
of  it  the  phrase, 


^ 


which  was  his  call  for  my  brother,  was  repeated 
twice.  It  was  distinct,  and  at  the  same  time  so 
much  a  part  of  his  improvization,  that  a  general 
listener  would  not  have  noticed  it  at  all.  At  the 
first  time  my  brother  seemed  arrested  by  it ;  at 
the  second  he  turned  and  looked  up,  but  saw  no 
sign.  When  the  call  came  the  third  time  he  de- 
liberately took  up  his  hat,  and,  leaving  the  pew, 
walked  straight  up  to  his  Father  and  said,  '*  Do 
you  want  me,  Sir?"  "  Yes,"  said  my  Father,  "  Go 
home  and  get  my  gold  snuff-box."  The  errand 
was  speedily  executed,  the  house  being  so  near 
St.  John's  Park.  He  handed  the  snuff-box  to  his 
Father  and  returned  to  his  seat. 


Musical  Life  in  New  York  185 


The  following  is  a  copy  of  his  note-sheet,  which 
gives  an  idea  of  what  he  found  or  rather  what  he 
did  not  find  in  New  York  ;  of  his  plan  of  attack, 
and  his  mode  of  reconstruction,  remembering  he 
alludes  only  to  the  "  Music  "  of  our  Church  : 


<< 


Music — as  it  is  in  the  United  States. 


Hindrances. 
Absence  of  permanent  Choirs. 

**  **  endowed  Professorships. 

"  '*  musical  Rubrics, 

*  Anthem.' 
"  "  authoritative  standard. 

False  position  of  choirs. 
Clerical  ignorance ! 

Puritanical  psalmody  yfr^/  on  the  ground. 
Low  standard  of  Organists. 
Operatic  importations. 
Influx  of  Germans,  etc. 
Would-be  independence. 
Defective  style  of  chaunting. 
Pseudo  Gregorian  Music, 
English  Cathedral  School  neglected. 

Two  or  three  Services  printed  only. 
Good  books  not  to  be  had,  except  from  abroad,  and 

then  half  useless. 
Strange  notions  afloat  as  to  the  propriety  of  paying 

musical  ofBcers  of  the  Church, 
Thorough  training  of  Boys  neglected. 
Rarity  of  well  directed  efforts. 
Holy  Cross,  Troy. 
Holy  Communion,  New  York. 


1 86  Edward   Hodges 


Confusion  of  ideas  concerning  Anthems  and  Services. 

(An  Anthem  read.     Churchman,) 
A  whole  generation  necessary  to  work  a  radical  change 
for  the  better. 

Remedies. 
Found    Professorships,   especially  in    the   Theological 

Seminaries. 
Found  Church  Schools^  having  particular  reference  to 

Church  Music. 
Restore  rubrics,  and  the  Pointing  of  the  Psalter. 
Disengage  Organists,  etc.,  from  necessary  contact  with 

secular  music /br  a  living. 
Consider  Music  no  longer  as  a  mere  stop-gap  in  Divine 
Service. 


Adherents  of  exclusive  congregational  singing. 

Musical  reputation  built  upon  false  pretences. 

Decay  of  English  Cathedral  Foundations.  Possible  fur- 
ther effect  of  California ! 

Cornwall's  *  Warwick,'  etc.  Power  of  early  associa- 
tion. 

Organ  pitch  raised  ;  and  why  ? 

Projects  of  New  Notation,  (Zundel  and  von  Heerin- 
gen,  etc.). 

Good  Friday  music." 

I  find  in  the  Diary  the  following  entry  : 

"  February  i,  i8jj. 

*'  I  composed  a  Chaunt  at  Faustina's  request." 

My  Father  mentions  no  key,  in  connection  with 
this  "  request  "  for  a  Chaunt.     Therefore  I  cannot 


Musical  Life  in  New  York  187 


identify  his  writing  me  one  at  this  time  with  the 
one  I  refer  to  in  my  *'  Notes  "  in  the  pamphlet 
entitled, 

•*  Kyries,  Chaunts  and  Tunes  by  Edward  Hodges, 
Mus.  D."  (Novello,  Ewer  &  Co.). 

It  is  quite  possible  I  asked  for  '*  a  Chaunt "  at 
this  time,  although  I  have  forgotten  it  ;  the  other 
parts  of  it  all,  I  remember  well  ;  so  I  copy  my  own 
words,  and  append  the  Chaunt  in  the  much  more 
beautiful  original  key  ;  one  easily  reached  by  Eng- 
lish men  and  boys. 

*'  One  day,  when  we  were  living  in  the  Cloisters, 
I  heard  my  Father  improvising  on  his  Broadwood 
in  the  key  of  A^  This  key  having  a  strange  fasci- 
nation for  me,  I  quickly  went  up  to  his  study  door 
and  knocked.  He  said  'Come  in,'  and  I  went  in, 
and  stood  by  him  silently.  He  continued  to  play  on 
for  some  little  time  ;  and  coming  to  a  cadence,  I 
thought  he  had  finished,  and  said,  '  I  'm  so  fond  of 
A*^'  ;  without  speaking,  he  played  on  until  his 
thoughts  took  a  definite  shape.  Leaving  the  piano 
he  went  to  his  high  desk,  at  which  he  always  stood 
to  write,  and  in  a  minute  or  two  brought  me  this 
beautiful  Chant.  He  had  headed  it  '  Faustina's 
Chaunt.      I  'm  so  fond  of  A^.' 

"  Well  do  I  remember  his  courteous  and  gracious 
manner  as  he  presented  it  to  me,  which  could  not 


1 88 


Edward  Hodges 


have  been  more  marked  had  he  been   addressing  a 
superior  in  age,  instead  of  his  own  child. 

"  Years  passed  by.  He  had  gone  to  New  York  ; 
the  Chant  had  passed  from  his  memory,  but  I  had 
kept  it,  and  one  day  I  placed  it  on  the  desk  of  his 
Piano.  He  played  it,  liked  it,  lowered  the  key  to 
G^  and  put  it  in  his  'Trinity  Collection.'  It  soon 
became  a  favorite,  was  copied  into  many  collections, 
and  has  been  one  of  the  most  generally  used  Chants 
in  the  United  States." 


^^S 


^^^^s^^^^ 


1^  >?    r    .-S 


^r^r^ 


^-^ 


•»  -^e 


i-i 


il'Ml"l^oTl"il-|.,--i^^ 


From  the  Musical  Magazine  and  Quarterly  Re- 
view, 1826,  I  make  the  following  extracts  : 

*' Dr.  Hodges's  Opus.  i. 
''  Morning  and  Evening  Service  in  C. 
'*  With  Two  Anthems. 

"  It  is  refreshing  to  turn  to  the  chastened  Melody,  fine 
Counterpoint  and  proper  clefs.  This  is  music  to  retire  to 
from  dramatic  noise  and  nonsense.  Dr.  Hodges,  in  a 
short  preface,  very  properly  waives  all  apology  for  the  use 
of  the  legitimate  clefs.  He  opens  his  Te  Deum  with 
plain,  appropriate  and  effective  harmony  ;  a  solemn  strain 
of  plain,  full  counterpoint.     The  fugal  points,  here  and 


Musical  Life  in  New  York  189 


throughout,  are  designedly  brief,  the  lights  and  shades  of 
Harmony  judiciously  contrasted,  and  the  modulation 
sufficient  and  effective.  The  Te  Deum  is  we  think  the 
best  part  of  the  Service  ;  and  some  of  the  musical  phrases 
are  of  a  very  elevated  character.  It  contains  also  a  fine 
instance  of  Canon. 

**  The  whole  setting  of  the  Psalm  '  O  give  thanks,'  to  go 
no  further,  is  a  sufficient  proof  of  the  Composer's  ability 
in  the  style  to  which  he  aspires.  In  the  two  Anthems 
the  Doctor  evidently  rises  in  conception  and  grandeur. 
The  melodies  and  harmonies  in  the  opening  chorus  *  O 
give  thanks  *  are  both  sweet  and  dignified.  The  close,  in 
which  due  attention  is  given  to  the  words,  is  grand.  The 
Chorus,  which  concludes  the  Anthem,  opens  a-la-Handel 
too  obviously.  It  is  a  dignified  chorus  in  which  the  pas- 
sage of  Octaves  forms  a  striking  and  grand  contrast  to  the 
full  Harmonies  ;  and  the  fugal  point,  though  very  simple, 
is  on  that  account  very  impressive. 

"  The  '  St.  James  Anthem  '  opens  with  a  short  Overture, 
where  again  we  are  reminded  of  Handel  as  well  as  Corelli, 
and  any  attempt  at  originality  is  waived  in  favour  of 
classic  propriety.  A  fine  chorus  in  C  minor  follows  the 
Overture,  and  is  sufficiently  diverse  in  style  from  the  pre- 
ceding choruses.  This  is  followed  by  a  descriptive 
Quartette  and  Chorus  in  the  major  relative,  in  which  the 
words  *  Praise  the  Lord  upon  the  Harp  '  occur,  and  are  of 
course  adapted  to  imitative  music,  and  with  interesting 
effect.  A  fine  double  Fugue  terminates  the  work.  The 
Fugue  is  scientifically  and  effectively  constructed  through- 
out various  modulations,  and  ultimately  blends  with  the 
solemn  Hallelujah,  both  vocally  and  instrumentally,  and 
terminates  with  grandeur. 

**  Finally,  if  these  compositions  are  not  remarkably  dis- 
tinguished by  originality,  the  apology  is  obviously  that 
they  are  modclltd  on  a  style  where  originality  can  scarcely 


iQo  Edward   Hodges 


be  expected.  The  severity  of  that  style,  introduced,  or 
at  least  established  by  the  Reformation,  has  banished 
quirks  and  fantasies  in  Ecclesiastical  Music,  and  original- 
ity in  the  path  of  creative  talent  requires  the  most  discreet 
management,  even  from  the  sublimest  genius." 

I  have  spoken  of  my  Father's  invention  and  use 
of  little  musical  phrases  to  serve  as  calls  for  us. 
My  own  vi^as  the  following  : 

/•  r.  f  sf        r> 


^ 


« 


His  usual  attention  to  the  number  3  is  apparent. 
The  third  time,  my  name  came  out  with  great 
decision  ! 

I  give  the  bare  harmony.  Of  course  he  filled  it 
in  as  he  list. 

His  call  for  my  good  second  Mother  was  the 
leading  phrase  of  his  **  Service  in  F." 

My  brother  Jubal  drew  a  most  intelligent  com- 
parison between  his  Father  and  S.  Sebastian  Wes- 
ley, as  musicians,  the  genius  of  Wesley,  transcendant 
as  it  was,  making  him  hold  in  even  higher  reverence 
and  estimation  the  abilities  and  powers  of  his 
Father.  He  saw  where  his  Fathers  thorough 
fugue  power  came  in,  conveying  the  idea  that  he 


t     t  ■>  -,      1 


'  1     '         '     '       -,'  5  5  5        '       >       J 


t  C     f    (       c 
(   t    ^  er 


(  c     c  c  f 


,r  r    f  f  f  c 


r    f    r 


(  i. 

<    t 


(  < 


Musical  Life  in  New  York  191 


had  trained  his  intellect  somewhat  at  the  expense 
of  his  imagination.  He  also  recognized  his  Father's 
greater  profundity  and  grandeur,  combined  with 
equal  scientific  skill :  above  all,  he  felt  in  his  Father's 
playing  a  soul-compelling  power,  which  seemed 
permeated  with  a  spirit  of  adoring  worship  and 
spiritual  exultation.  **  Could  the  two  be  shaken 
together,  and  their  distinctive  genius  blended,"  he 
said,  "  what  two  magnificent,  almost  superhuman 
minds  should  we  have  ! " 

My  Father's  voice  as  I  remember  it,  was  of  a 
high  Tenor  quality,  exceedingly  sweet,  delicate 
and  plaintive  in  tone,  and  exquisite  in  Chromatic 
passages. 

In  his  Bristol  Diary  I  often  find  : 

"  At  the  Cathedral  this  morning  I  took  a  stall 
and  sang  Bass  through  the  service."  Showing  its 
compass,  he  constantly  speaks  of  his  taking  Tenor, 
Counter-tenor  or  Bass  in  his  Anthem  or  Service 
music,  where  a  part  was  required. 

A  musical  friend  in  New  York  once  startled  me 
by  saying  *'  What  an  exquisite  singer  your  Father 
is  !  "  Until  then  I  had  not  fully  realized  the  veiled 
and  rarely-heard  perfection  of  his  voice. 

As  I  have  written  much  music  and  have  not  pre- 
served   any    ''reviews"    or    "critiques"    but    the 


192  Edward   Hodges 


following,  I  am  tempted  to  insert  it  here.  I  value 
it  not  only  for  its  source,  but  because  the  writer, 
whom  I  have  never  discovered  or  known,  seems  to 
have  read  my  mind,  and  interpreted  my  meaning. 

My  brother,  the  beloved  Jubal,  on  leaving  me 
one  day,  said,  '*  Write  '  Blessed  are  the  pure  in 
heart  'for  me.''  In  due  time  the  music  was  written. 
It  was  first  published  by  G.  Schirmer,  New  York, 
and  afterwards  by  my  faithful  old  friend  Dimoline, 
of  Bristol,  who  sent  a  copy  to  Novello.  It  is  for 
three  voices.  The  notice  which  I  copy  is  from  the 
London  Musical  Times  of  Feb.  i,  1874.  The 
words  were  written  four  years  after  my  brother  had 
entered  that  life  which  his  "pure  heart"  on  earth 
anticipated. 

"  Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart." 

*'  Here  is  a  truly  charming  little  Trio.  Its  chief 
melody  is  most  graceful,  its  harmony  is  fresh  and 
decidedly  modern  in  character,  without  being  more 
chromatic  than  is  necessitated  by  the  phraseology 
of  the  top  part,  nor  than  is  easy  to  sing  and  de- 
lightful to  hear,  and  the  effect  of  the  combined 
voices  is  admirable. 

"  The  merit  of  the  music  stands  high,  claims 
attention,  and  should  secure  wide  acceptance  for 
the  piece.     We  feel  the  naturally  devout  expres- 


Musical  Life  in  New  York 


193 


sion  of  every  phrase,  though  this  is  rendered  in 
unconventional  forms,  and  we  are  glad  to  find  a 
writer  who  is  so  independent  of  custom's  trammels, 
that  she  can  set  scriptural  words  to  notes  that  flow 
from  her  heart,  and  so  present  them  with  an  air  of 
conviction  in  their  truth." 


13 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


MY    father's    inventions. 


THE  details  of  these  very  numerous  inventions 
may  to  some  seem  tedious  and  unnecessary  ; 
while  to  others  they  may  be  the  most  important 
part  of  all.  Unless  they  are  both  clearly  and 
wholly  given,  what  is  the  use  of  noticing  the  inven- 
ventions  at  all  ?  We  should  thus  leave  one  part, 
and  a  very  important  part  of  my  Father's  life  out 
of  sight  altogether.  It  is  very  true,  that  the  Mow- 
ing Machine,  and  the  Screw  Propeller,  and  the 
Dumb  Waiter,  and  Sections  in  Ships,  and  the 
Roller  Skate,  and  the  application  of  Electricity, 
and  the  bleaching  of  India  Rubber,  and  Iron 
Steeples  and  Stairs,  and  I  believe  dozens  of  others, 
all  have  respectively  been  done  or  brought  into 
use  years  after  he  first  recorded  them  ;  but  they 
are  none  the  less  his ;  they  occurred  to  his  mind, 
and  each  one  of  these  had  i7i  his  mind  its  full  de- 
tail  and  way  of  working,  and  received  as   much 

194 


My  Father's  Inventions  195 


careful  thought  in  kind,  though  not  in  degree,  as 
his  most  carefully  worked-out  Fugue.  Not  to  give 
the  details  then  would  be  injustice  to  him. 

The  most  remarkable  points  in  it  all,  are :  First, 
the  fact  that  one  who  is  known  chiefly  as  an  emi- 
nent Church  Musician  and  Theorist  should  have 
thought  out  all  those  other  things  ;  secondly,  his 
extreme  youth  ;  and  thirdly,  the  state  of  know- 
ledge then,  and  his  solitude  in  Bristol. 

It  was  not  so  remarkable  that  he  should  have 
soared  into  the  regions  of  Acoustics,  where  New- 
ton reigned  supreme,  or  that  the  metaphysical  part 
of  music  so  fascinated  him.  We  cannot  see  things 
as  they  were  then,  and  as  he  saw  them.  We  are 
in  the  light  of  the  knowledge  he  foresaw,  and  in  a 
very  great  degree  enjoyed.  His  eye  was  prophetic, 
as  his  aims  were  unerring  ;  and  the  result  was  sure, 
though  the  latter  may  have  been  gained  by  other 

ways  than  his. 

Here  is  a  little  picture  of  his  boyhood. 

He  is  a  lad  of  sixteen,  and  we  see  him  making 
his  way  one  night  up  to  the  roof  of  the  old  Bridge 
Street  house,  carrying  something  very  carefully. 
Immersed  in  acids  (according  to  his  knowledge  of 
Chemistry,)  is  a  specimen  of  black,  unsightly 
Caoutchouc. 


196  Edward  Hodges 


Now  he  has  determined  In  himself  that  this 
black  stuff  can  be  made  white.  It  never  has  been 
done,  but  he  has  laboured  for  many  months  at  it, 
and  will  not  give  it  up. 

He  also  writes  his  belief  that  it  is  capable  of 
many  different  uses  ;  that  it  can  take  colours  and 
be  moulded  into  many  shapes.  Up  to  the  roof  he 
goes  early  next  morning  and  finds  that  this,  one  of 
his  latest  experiments,  is  partially  successful. 

Was  not  his  forecast  of  India  Rubber  absolutely 
verified  ? 

The  year  1821  was  for  Dr.  Hodges  as  an  In- 
ventor his  Annus  Mirabilis,  He  was  at  this  date 
twenty-five  years  of  age. 

There  appeared  about  the  year  1887  an  article 
In  the  Bristol  Times  and  Mirror  headed  **  Pro- 
fessor Ericsson  and  Dr.  Edward  Hodges,  of  Bristol," 
from  which  article  I  extract  the  following  : 

''Sir: 

"  I  think  it  will  much  interest  many  of  your  readers  to 
compare  the  statement  made  in  the  slight  sketch  of  the 
life  and  work  of  the  Inventor  and  Scientist,  Ericsson, 
(whose  death  at  the  age  of  85,  has  just  been  telegraphed 
from  New  York,)  with  an  extract  from  the  Records  left  by 
Dr.  Edward  Hodges  of  his  own  '  Projects  and  Inventions  ' 
in  the  field  of  Mechanical  Science.  '  The  Screw  Propeller,' 
Ericsson's  most  important  invention,  was  invented  in 
1836.  *  The  Princeton  '  with  a  Screw  propeller  was  built 
later.     His  last  vessel  (all  this  was  in  New  York)  was  the 


My  Father's  Inventions  197 


*  Destroyer,'  which  carried  a  sixteen-inch  gun,  which  dis- 
charges, with  gun-cotton,  a  1500  Ib.-projectile.  In  later 
years  Ericsson's  attention  was  given   to   Solar  influences. 

"  We  will  now  turn  to  the  record  left  by  Dr.  Hodges 
of  his  *  Inventions  and  Projects,  A.D.  1821,'  and  quote 
verbatim. 

" '  A  method  of  impelling  boats  (by  any  mechanical 
mover)  by  means  of  large  screws  under  water.  Smith 
(Organ  Builder)  tells  me  that  Lord  Stanhope  had  the 
same  notion,  and  had  tried  it  unsuccessfully. 

Aug.  8,  1821.'" 

On  the  subject  of  Explosives,  Dr.  Hodges  writes 
that  he  had 

"An  indistinct  notion  of  applying  the  moderated, 
gradual  explosion  of  Gunpowder,  as  in  squibs  and  sky- 
rockets, to  the  impulse  of  ships.  The  resisting  medium 
being,  of  course,  the  water  behind  the  vessel.  Ships  so 
provided  might  get  off  faster  when  chased,  and  in  a  calm, 
might  even  move  with  great  velocity;  but  of  course  at 
a  great  expense  of  powder." 

It  would  be  interesting  to  find  out  who  was  the 
successful  projector  of  ''  Sections  in  Ships'';  but 
I  give  Dr.  Hodges's  words — 

"A  project  for  the  prevention  of  the  destruction  of 
ships  by  fire  or  leakage  by  means  of  Sections  (In  bed,  Jan. 
22,  1821).  Wrote  S.  Gardener  Esq.  about  it.  Received 
his  answer  Jan.  26.  Learned  that  the  scheme  had  been 
communicated  to  several  London  Merchants,  Feb.  4. 
Result  unknown.  Appeared  in  *  Bristol  Observer,'  March 
12.  Wrote  R.  H.  Davis,  M.P.  Received  a  communica- 
tion to  apply  to  the  Admirality." 


iqS  Edward  Hodges 


Another  quotation — 

**  An  Hydraulic  Mercurial  Steam  Engine  which  may 
have  the  same  force  as  the  present  most  powerful  engines, 
yet  restricted  to  perhaps  less  than  an  eighth  of  the  space 
and  weight  they  now  occupy." 

Strangely  too,  Dr.  Hodges  as  a  lad,  was  invent- 
ing his  Photo-meter,  and  measuring  the  sun's  light, 
thus  directing,  like  Ericsson,  his  mind  to  Solar  In- 
fluence. He  recorded  forty-three  Inventions  and 
Projects  in  the  year  1821  alone.  They  go  over  a 
great  deal  of  ground  :  came  into  his  head  at  all 
sorts  of  times  and  all  sorts  of  places  :  in  Church, 
in  the  Commercial  Rooms,  (one  of  his  favourite  re- 
sorts in  Bristol,)  in  bed,  in  his  walks  and  rambles, 
or  in  conversation  with  a  friend.  Some  are  quaint 
and  curiously  original,  showing  a  wonderful  fertility 
and  forecast  of  practical  and  mechanical  knowledge  ; 
while  all  indicate  a  degree  of  observation  and 
thoughtful  intelligence,  remarkable  in  one  who  had 
barely  reached  a  quarter  of  century  in  years ;  and 
who,  besides  having  his  time  and  attention  neces- 
sarily given  to  business,  was  pursuing  with  extreme 
diligence  his  studies  in  the  Science,  Practice,  Com- 
position and  History  of  Music. 

Of  the  forty-three  inventions,  seven  were  for  the 
Organ  {vide  "  Improvement  of  Organs,"  1826-182  7, 
London  Musical  Magazine  a7td  Review,  by  Dr.  Ed- 


'  ■>  -, 


■>■>■>■>  -,-,_ 


•>•>■>■> 


">  •'1  ^  ■>  t 


O 
O 


u 

o 


> 

Z 

< 


o 

2 


c« 


«  ,    ' 


t   f  c  t 

r       f 
t        ' 

c 
r 


.t  r 

f     € 
C 


t  « 

c 
I- »  < 


r      f 
tr 


f  r 
t 


r  t    t 


t  €    t 

t  t 
. f  €r<  c 
■    t   '      re 

-     ^  e  r    r    r  € 


My  Father's  Inventions  199 


ward  Hodges) ;  and  the  Organ  of  St.  James's, 
Bristol,  was  the  fore-runner  of  all  the  large  Organs 
erected  in  England,  as  Trinity  Organ,  New  York, 
was  of  all  afterwards  built  in  the  United  States. 
He  was,  as  a  Cathedral  Organist  told  the  writer, 
called  an  "  Innovator,"  in  this  instance  a  term  of 
honour.  He  wrote  of  his  old  organ  at  St.  James's, 
''  the  Organ  is  vile  !  "  He  lived  to  see  his  innova- 
tion universally  adopted.  Whether  he  received 
the  credit  of  it  is  another  matter.  It  did  not  trouble 
him  much.  "  He  was,"  said  a  distinguished  Doctor 
in  Music,  of  Cambridge,  ''fifty  years  before  his  time." 
He  closes  his  record  with  this  bit  of  Philosophy : 

*'  As  to  my  projects  mechanical,  some  are  good  and 
useful.  They  must  some  day  come  into  popular  use. 
And  then  whether  I  have  the  honour  of  the  Invention  or 
not,  I  shall  have  the  satisfaction  of  feeling  that  I  deserve 
it.  There  are  men  in  the  world,  who  are  at  this  moment 
heaping  up  credit  on  the  brains  of  others.  I  would  not 
give  a  straw  to  be  esteemed  the  inventor  of  the  Steam- 
Engine  itself,  unless  I  had  the  consciousness  of  the  fact 
within  me." 

Here  is  a  Diary  Extract  : 

"  From  Mr.  Samuel  Wesley  about  my  Typhus  Pedal. 

"  London,  27  Duke  St.,  Grosvenor  Sq. 

"  February,  18 19. 

"  Sir, 

"  In  answer  to  the  favour  of  your  letter,  for  which  I  re- 
turn my  thanks,  I  wish  to  observe,  that  your  new  inven- 
tion appears  to  me  exceedingly  ingenious,  and  a  great 


200  Edward  Hodges 


increase  of  grand  effect  will  be  produced  in  the  hands  of 
a  complete  master  of  Modulation  and  of  the  Organ  : — 
but  that  it  is  only  in  such  hands  that  this  end  is  likely  to 
be  attained  ;  how  far  therefore  it  is  of  general  utility  may 
possibly  be  a  question,  for  I  am  sure  I  need  not  inform 
you  that  the  number  of  performers  who  understand  the 
entire  management  of  an  organ  is  comparatively  few. 

**  I  beg  leave  to  add  that  I  shall  feel  most  ready  to 
receive  any  future  communication  upon  the  subject  you 
may  judge  proper  to  make  to 

'*  Sir,  Your  obliged  and  obedient  servant, 

♦'  S.  Wesley. 

"To  Edward  Hodges,  Esq.,  Bridge  St.,  Bristol," 

The  above  relates  to  a  contrivance  whereby  any 
number  of  keys  may  be  held  down  for  an  indefi- 
nite length  of  time.  It  has  yet,  however,  never 
been  made  public. 

In  the  Diary  of  this  time  my  Father  writes  a 
great  deal  about  his  Typhus  Pedal.  A  clerical 
friend,  who  knew  him  not,  and  yet  seemed  to  re- 
gard him,  after  all  these  years,  as  a  living  presence 
in  the  church,  has  kindly  furnished  me  with  the 
Greek,  adding  these  pleasant  words:  ''Your 
Father  was  a  good  Grecian  when  he  called  his 
"smothered  grandeur  "  pedal,  a  Typhus  Pedaiy 

Tvcpoz,  smoke,  vapour. 
TvcpGD,  to  raise  a  smoke. 
Metaph.     Tvcpojxevo?  "j  smouldering,    but    not    yet 
noXe^oi        [      broken  out. 
TvcpoD6rj<;,        like  smoke. 


My  Fathers  Inventions  201 


The  following  extracts  from  the  Diary  bear  on 
the  subject  of  his  inventions  : 

"  Jan.  24th,   1824. 

*'  As  I  lay  awake  in  bed  during  the  night  I  cogitated  on 
the  matter  of  tuning  Trumpets,  etc.,  when  there  came  into 
my  head  the  mode  of  shortening  the  Tube  and  conse- 
quently of  altering  the  key-note  by  means  of  a  tube  with 
a  stop-cock. 

*'  As  usual  now  with  me  I  lay  awake  some  hours  last 
night,  and  cogitated  about  Trumpets,  Windmills,  etc.  I 
devised  a  new  combination  for  raising  water  in  gardens, 
viz.,  the  appropriation  of  the  Parabolic  curved  Tube,  in  con- 
nexion with  a  horizontal  windmill,  or  two,  or  three  of 
them,  one  above  another,  forming  a  little  tower. 

''Feb.  2nd. 

*'  How  to  describe  a  spiral.  This  idea  pleased  me  much 
at  the  time;  it  occurred  to  me  in  bed,  though  not  for  the 
first  time.  Take  a  Cylinder  whose  circumference  shall  be 
just  the  distance  you  wish  to  have  between  the  lines,  then 
wind  a  thread  round  it  having  a  pen  and  pencil  at  the 
end,  first  fixing  it  on  the  paper  or  board  whereon  you 
wish  to  describe  the  figure.  Then  by  keeping  the  line  out 
firm  and  marking  the  surface  as  you  go,  a  true  spiral  is 
obtained. 

''Feb.  4th. 

'*  I  thought  of  a  new  method  of  constructing  chimneys 
and  fire-places  in  a  house,  by  making  the  fire  in  the  plinth 
of  a  large  classical  column,  the  column  itself  carrying  the 
flue." 

Particulars  are  given  and  drawing  made,  and 
drawings  are  given  of  the  plans  he  had  for  improve- 
ment in  Trombones. 


202  Edward  Hodges 


Oct.  ijth. 

"  Both  yesterday  and  to-day  I  have  both  amused  and 
stored  my  mind  in  some  degree  by  poring  over  the 
Encyclopoedia  Metropolitana,  upon  Manufactures  and 
Machines. 

"■  I  have  an  idea  of  introducing  a  new  process  of  print- 
ing, which  may  be  appropriately  called  Papyrography,  as 
distinguished  from  Lithography. 

*■'  I  propose  fixing  my  paper  upon  wooden  blocks,  by 
means  of  india-rubber  varnish,  and  am  sanguine  enough 
to  believe  that  I  can  manage  to  print  both  sides  at  the 
same  moment,  which  as  far  as  I  know  has  never  been 
attempted  by  anybody.  I  am  in  doubt  as  the  employ- 
ment whether  of  flat  blocks  or  of  cylinders,  perhaps  the 
latter  will  be  best  for  inking  and  watering.  The  opera- 
tion of  printing  will  be  more  rapid  than  any  yet  known. 
I  am  delighted  with  the  idea,  and  hope  to  apply  it  to 
Music.     But  alas  !  where  are  my  funds  for  experiments  ?  " 

In  the  year  1824  my  Father  records  his  Invention 
of  a  Flying  Machme.  He  draws  it,  and  gives  full 
details  as  usual. 

Many  years  afterwards  when  in  New  York  he 
spoke  in  fun,  as  well  as  in  sober  earnest,  of  his 
''  Flying  Pigeon " ;  proving  that  the  thought  of 
some  machine  to  move  in  air  was  yet  in  his 
mind. 

''April,  nth,   1824. 

"Amid    the    multitude   of   my   projects,   I    know  not 
which  to  encounter  first, 
My  New  Notation, 
My  Organ  Improvements, 


My  Father's  Inventions  203 


My  Rocket  Ships,         Life  saving  apparatus. 

My  Steam  Apparatus, 

My  Musical  Publication, 

My  Double  Trombone   (to  speak  a  62  ft.  C) 

My    Double    Bass,    (to    be    stopped    mechanically). 

Besides  various  musical  Compositions,  which  I 

wish  to  commence  or  complete  ;  (The  Last  Day, 

an  Oratorio,  The   Psalms  entire,  An  Anthem 

from  the  Book  of  Ecclesiastes,  Psalm  Tunes,  a 

few    hundreds,   Accompaniments    of    various 

pieces,  Balaam  and  his  Ass,)  and   Mechanical 

Contrivances,  which  I   cannot  at  the  moment 

even  enumerate,  all  crowd  upon  me,  and  cause 

my  purpose  to  lose  the  name  of  action. 

"  Would  that  I  had  the  capacity  that  would  receive  and 

retain  all  kinds  of  knowledge,  and  a  bodily  fame  fitted  to 

endure  eternal  study." 

When  anticipating  an  important  Musical  perform- 
ance, he  wrote  : 

"  I  rely  on  my  past  experience,  that  in  time  of  greatest 
need,  I  have  the  greatest  confidence  and  the  greatest 
pov/er. 

"  Deo  juvante." 

'•  Oct  4th,  1826. 
"  Heat  Engine. 

"  The  last  idea  I  have  at  present  to  insert  is  but  half 
fledged,  and  is  in  fact  but  an  indistinct  apprehension  of 
the  possible  existence  of  a  law  of  heat  applicable  economi- 
cally as  a  source  of  mechanical  power. 

*'  It  is  known  that  a  great  quantity  of  heat  is  as  it  were 


204  Edward  Hodges 


suspended  or  incorporated  in  our  circum-ambient  air,  and 
that  much  of  this  heat  is  given  out  when  the  air  is  sud- 
denly compressed. 

"  A  year  or  two  ago  I  started  one  application  of  this 
experiment,  viz.,  a  contrivance  for  boiling  water  by  means 
of  a  forcing  syringe. 

"  Now,  however,  I  am  supposing  it  possible  that  there 
may  be  some  substance  (whether  solid  or  fluid  matters 
not),  which,  when  acted  upon  by  a  given  heat,  may  by  its 
expansion  produce  or  elicit  a  greater  power  than  would 
be  required  to  produce  that  heat  by  the  means  alluded 
to,  viz.,  the  forcible  compression  of  our  atmospheric  air. 
Were  this  but  the  case  with  water,  we  might  straightway 
have  a  steam  engine  requiring  not  the  aid  of  the  heat  of 
fuel. 

"  But  this  is  too  grand  a  fact  not  to  have  been  hereto- 
fore detected,  if  fact  it  be. 

**  Here,  however,  let  the  idea  rest  for  future  contempla- 
tion. 

"  I  read  Shakspeare  and  Rabelais  much  of  this  day." 

"  Oct.  1 6th,  1833. 

'■'  In  Park  Street  to-day  as  I  proceeded  towards  Clifton, 
I  overtook  old  Mr.  George  Cumberland,  with  whom  I 
strolled  and  conversed  for  a  full  hour.  He  is  much  inter- 
ested at  present  about  a  school  for  the  blind  kept  by  a 
man  named  Lucas,  who  is  also  the  inventor  of  a  system 
whereby  the  blind  can  be  taught  to  read  readily  from 
embossed  characters  of  a  very  simple  description. 

*'  I  communicated  to  Mr.  Cumberland  my  plan  whereby 
many  years  ago  I  enabled  William  Frost  (blind)  to  amuse 
himself  and  friend  at  a  game  of  Draughts,  I  having  pre- 
pared a  board  whereon  the  squares  were  alternately  cov- 
ered with  baize.  The  men  were  thin  discs  and  squares  of 
millboard,  covered  on  both  sides  with  baize." 


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My  Father's  Inventions  20; 


The  bHnd  ''  singing  at  sight  "  ! 

"  I  also  informed  him  that  a  few  years  ago  I  had  formed 
a  design  to  make  an  offer  of  my  Musical  talent  to  the 
Governors  of  the  Asylum  for  the  Blind,  intending  to  en- 
deavour to  instruct  the  inmates  in  singing  from  a  simple 
notation  of  my  invention  ;  but  that  I  had  been  prevented 
by  the  circumstance  of  their  having  engaged  a  paid 
teacher  to  sing  and  play  by  ear,  just  as  I  was  concocting 
my  project." 

*'  Oct.  14,  1836.     10  A.M. 

"  Notation  for  the  Blind. 

"  I  give  myself  as  subjects  for  meditation  this  morning 
my  proposed  new  system  of  Musical  Notation  for  the 
Blind,  and  the  Papyrographical  project." 

"/o>^  P.M. 

*'  I  did  not  descend  the  staircase  all  day,  but  kept  to 
my  study  and  amused  (!)  myself  principally  with  my  own 
meditations.  I  made  a  complete  scheme  of  my  Nota- 
tion, and  saw  my  way  clearly  to  a  satisfactory  accom- 
plishment of  that  undertaking.  In  the  Papyrographical 
process  I  found  I  could  make  no  further  progress  without 
submitting  certain  points  to  the  test  of  experiment.  That 
matter  therefore  stands  over." 

**  Music  Modelling  and  Casting. 

"A  new  idea  occurred  in  the  afternoon.  This  is  a 
scheme  for  modelling  music  in  clay  or  wax,  which  could 
be  done  with  great  rapidity,  and  taking  thence  a  cast  in 
plaster  or  some  harder  material,  from  which  to  print,  as 
in  the  Stereotype  process. 

"  This  also  is  worth  thinking  about,  and  should  be  sub- 
mitted to  experiment." 


2o6  Edward   Hodges 


**  Fire  Extinguishing  Project." 

"An  odd  idea  entered  my  head  as  I  was  dressing  my- 
self this  morning. 

"  It  is  neither  more  nor  less  than  a  project  for  extin- 
guishing fire  on  board  ships  by  the  agency  of  the  deadly 
aerial  products  oi  giinpozvder  ! 

"  This  must  be  thought  of  again. 

"  If  it  succeeds  (and  I  confess  I  see  not  how  it  zd^\  fail, 
if  the  access  of  the  other  air  can  be  but  moderately  pre- 
vented, for  no  flame  could  live  in  such  an  atmosphere)  it 
will  be  a  noble  thing  to  employ  such  an  agent  upon  such 
a  service.  Of  course  the  powder  must  be  slowly  con- 
sumed, not  exploded,  (which  can  be  easily  done  with  the 
aid  of  moisture)  and  the  vapour  must  be  conveyed  be- 
tween decks. 

*'  Two  or  three  barrels  of  powder  methinks  would  pro- 
duce enough  to  fill  the  area  of  a  large  ship." 

"'Feb.  22nd,  1837. 

"  In  the  evening  I  meditated  on  my  proposed  galvanic 
or  electric  engine,  to  supersede  the  Steam  Engine  !  and 
for  the  first  time  thought  I  saw  my  way  clear  to  a  prac- 
tical application  of  the  principle  on  which  I  have  so  long 
pondered. 

**  This  and  the  Piano-forte  occupied  the  evening  until  a 
late  hour." 

"  Ship  Saving  Invention  Filched." 

"  Sept.  2gth,  1837. 

**  I  read  the  papers.  Played  some  fugues  upon  a  noble 
Piano-forte  at  C.  Hodges's  shop ;  chatted  with  various 
friends  and  others  in  various  places,  and  at  length  got 
home  to  dinner  at  four  o'clock. 


My  Father's  Inventions  207 


*'  Before  six  I  was  on  foot  again.  I  rambled  to  the 
Hot-wells,  thence  across  CHfton  to  Gotham,  and  so  via  St. 
Michael's  Hill  to  the  Commercial  Rooms  again,  where  I 
spent  nearly  two  hours  in  rummaging  old  files  of  news- 
papers for  some  letters  of  mine  upon  an  Invention  which 
another  has  introduced  with  eclat. 

'*  It  relates  to  the  division  of  the  hull  of  a  vessel  into 
compartments.  I  have  written  upon  the  subject  to  the 
Bristol  Observer  in  1^21,  t\iQ  Bristol  Mirror  in  1825  and 
in  the  Repertory  of  Patent  Inventions,  etc.,  for  1831, 
besides  having  had  a  correspondence  with  the  Secretary  of 
the  Admiralty  (then  Croker)  about  it :  yet  this  Mr.  Wil- 
liams is  now  to  have  the  credit  for  the  Invention. 

"  In  the  evening  I  prosecuted  my  search  for  Docu- 
ments amongst  my  own  papers." 

"  Still  hunting  for  papers  about  the  Ship-dividing  In- 
vention. I  found  all  I  wanted.  The  next  consideration 
is,  what  to  do  with  them. 

"At  the  Commercial  Rooms,  Tyson,  seeing  me,  put 
into  my  hand  a  note  from  himself  containing  a  slip  of 
paper  cut  out  from  the  Morning  Herald  o'f  yesterday's 
date. 

*'  It  proved  to  contain  a  letter  from  Sir  George  (or  Mr. 
George)  Rennie,  claiming  the  Hull-dividing  invention  as 
his,  struck  out  about  three  years  ago. 

"  I  subsequently  deposited  all  the  documents  which 
I  had  been  collecting  at  the  Mirror  ofifice,  for  Tyson's 
perusal  at  leisure." 

•'  Oct.  14th. 

"  An  Article  (written  by  Tyson)  headed  "  Safety 
Steamers"  appears  in  the  Mirror  to-day,  justifying  my 
Claim  to  the  priority  of  invention  over  Mr.  Williams  and 
George  Rennie. 


2o8  Edward   Hodges 


"  After  all  there  is  no  probability  of  pecuniary  advan- 
tage to  me  at  least,  although  my  inventions  may  be 
adopted  and  my  fellow  creatures  benefitted  by  them." 

It  is  a  matter  of  gratification,  if  no  more,  that  at 
least  my  Father's  invention  of  Sections  in  Ships  is 
recorded. 

''Feb.  1 2th,  1833. 

"  At  dinner-time  an  odd  notion  struck  me  of  construct- 
ing a  Sun-dial  which  should  strike  the  hour  of  noon. 

''  The  thing  would  be  easy  by  the  adjustment  of  a  lens, 
so  as  to  throw  the  focus  of  the  sun's  rays  on  a  thread 
precisely  as  the  sun  attained  its  meridian." 

Sun-dials  have  always  had  a  peculiar  charm  and 
fascination  for  me.  I  have  often  wandered  about 
the  Precincts  or  the  Close  of  a  Cathedral,  or  the 
Quad,  of  a  College,  tracing  them  out. 

They  are  so  unique  and  suggestive,  and  have 
such  a  voice  of  Eld  ;  and  they  have  a  way  of  bring- 
ing to  mind  the  idea  given  to  our  infantine 
perceptions  that  the  ''  Sun  was  made  to  rule  the 
day."  Then  their  quaint  Mottoes  in  Latin  or  Greek  ! 
and  their  cabalistic  characters.  It  was  on  one  of 
our  perfect  English  summer  afternoons  that  I  was 
standing,  looking  up  at  the  Sun-dial  on  Ely  Cathe- 

» 

dral.  I  could  read  parts  of  two  Greek  words  I  saw 
there,  though  the  letters  were  imperfect — suggest- 
ing *'  Gnostic  "  and  ''  Chronos  "  yet  I  could  not 
exactly  make  out  their  sense. 


My  Father's  Inventions  209 


The  Cloister  door  opened,  and  that  genial  and 
lovely  man,  the  Archdeacon  of  Ely  came  towards  me. 

He  must  have  noticed  that  I  was  puzzled,  and 
looking  up  at  the  Sun-dial  he  said  : 

*' '  Know  the  time.'  Good  words  to  keep  in 
one's  heart." 

Observing  his  dress — for  we  were  unknown  to 
each  other — I  asked,  '*  Have  I  the  honour  of  speak- 
ing to  a  Bishop  ?  "  and  he  said  with  a  kindly  smile, 
''  No ;  only  an  Archdeacon  !  " 

Then  he  approached  the  ivy-draped  door  of  the 
picturesque  old  Deanery,  opened  it,  and  was  gone, 
and  the  door  was  shut. 

I  stood  awhile  and  pondered  on  these  great  words, 

Knowledge  and  Time, 

and  the  endless  avenues  of  thought  they  open  out. 

I  copied  the  Greek  motto,  and  thought  of  the 
Archdeacon's  earnest  and  beaming  expression  as  he 
interpreted  it,  and  of  the  fleeting  vision  of  his 
presence. 

Then  I  stood  gazing  at  the  stupendous  grandeur 
of  the  Cathedral  as  its  Towers  and  Chapels  were 
brought  into  light  by  the  rays  of  the  descending 
sun.  I  thought  of  the  almost  incredible  work  of 
the  Faithful  Monks,  whose  voices  from  the  very 
stones  seem  to  say,  "  Go  thou  and  do  likewise  !  " 

«4 


2IO  Edward   Hodges 


With  a  parting  glance  at  the  sun-dial,  I  wan- 
dered down  the  green  slope  south  of  the  Cathedral, 
at  the  foot  of  which  I  could  distinguish  some 
remains  of  the  monastic  buildings.  Built  on  to  the 
end  of  them  I  found  a  real  English  cottage.  The 
garden  gate  was  open.  I  entered  and  was 
welcomed  by  a  pleasant  woman  who  said  she  was 
accustomed  to  furnish  tea  to  strangers.  She 
showed  me  the  old  buildings  and  the  garden,  and 
sat  chatting  about  Ely  and  the  Cathedral,  as  I 
took  tea  in  her  cosy  parlour.  She  mentioned 
Archdeacon  Emery  with  reverent  affection,  and  I 
easily  saw  that  my  good  Greek  interpreter  was 
universally  beloved. 

Then  after  a  moderate  payment  and  many  kind 
words,  I  wandered  out.  I  saw  the  river,  still  flow- 
ing on,  where  the  "  Monks  of  Ely  sang,"  and  with 
a  parting  glance  at  the  noble  Cathedral  crowning  the 
green  hill  before  me,  and  a  thought  for  my  now  van- 
ished friend,  the  sun-dial,  I  betook  me  to  mine  Inn. 

My  Father  had  more  than  once  visited  Ely  ;  and 
had  a  great  regard  for  Mr.  Skeats,  who  was  Or- 
ganist there  when  he  took  his  Degree  at  Cambridge. 
Indeed  the  love  and  appreciation  with  which  my 
Father  was  remembered  there,  was  the  source  of 
most  of  the  pleasure  I  had  in  visiting  this  quaint 
Cathedral  town  in  the  Fenlands. 


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CHAPTER    XVII. 

THE  LAST  SOUNDS  FROM  THE  HARP  OF  MANY  STRINGS. 

THOSE  who  loved  my  Father  would  like  to 
know  his  last  acts  in  music,  and  the  last 
chords  his  fingers  rested  upon.  These  little  facts 
have  a  mournful  interest ;  but  I  will  give  them 
faithfully. 

One  of  the  last  of  his  grand  services  at  which  I 
was  present,  was  the  Atlantic  Cable  Celebration  at 
Trinity  Church  in,  I  think,  1858. 

This  was  a  service  of  national  or  international 

rejoicing,    and    necessarily  differed  from  a  church 

festival.     The  city  was  en  fete.     The  British  flag, 

always  a  delight  to  my  Father's  heart,  w^as  seen 

everywere,   united  with    the  "  Stars   and   Stripes." 

Trinity  Church  had  an  arch  of  flowers  erected  at  the 

chancel  steps,  under  which  stood  the  noble  form  of 

the  Bishop  of  New  Jersey,  the  Rt.   Rev.   George 

Washington  Doane,  and  thence  he  delivered  a  noble 

oration.     My  Father  played   Handel's  ''Zadok  the 

Priest,"  and   Handel's  **  God  save  the  King,"  and 

211 


212  Edward  Hodges 


never  did  Trinity  organ,  made  alive  by  its  master 
at  the  keys,  give  forth  more  noble  sound. 

It  was  said,  and  may  be  mournfully  true,  that  the 
excitement  my  dear  Father  was  under  on  this  occa- 
sion, together  with  the  tremendous  pressure  the 
organ  keys  demanded,  produced  the  illness  which 
soon  after  followed,  and  from  which  he  never  fully 
recovered.  I  remember  one  day  he  asked  me,  or 
rather  insisted  on  my  trying,  to  play,  and  the  resist- 
ance of  the  keys  was  tremendous.  It  was  simply 
surprising  that  his  hand  of  sensitive  muscles  and 
nerves,  not  made  of  iron,  had  ever  mastered  it. 

There  follows  a  blank  to  me.  It  seems  as  thouorh 
a  shadow  had  fallen. 

I  was  not  in  Trinity  until  some  time  after,  and  I 
know  it  was  not  Sunday,  for  I  was  below  in  a  pew, 
and  there  were  not  many  in  the  church.  My  Father 
was  at  the  organ,  and  he  played  his  own  Kyrie,  in 
E  minor.  I  never  heard  anything  so  touching  in 
my  life.  I  cannot  describe  it.  The  organ  seemed 
like  a  human  thing  in  tears.  The  artistic  finish  of 
the  perfect  musician  was  so  apparent ;  and  the  sub- 
dued prayerful  plea  for  mercy  was  never  more 
present  than  in  the  sad  soul  that  organ  seemed  to 
possess.  I  could  do  nothing  but  hide  down  in  the 
pew,  and  give  way  to  the  sadness  of  that  moment. 


The  Last  Sounds  213 


A  Common  Metre  hymn  was  given  out.  The  tune 
my  Father  played  was  the  one  in  American  books 
called  ''Christmas."  It  is  from  Handel  :  ''  He  was 
eyes  unto  the  blind."  It  came  forth  as  the  Kyrie 
did,  as  it  were  in  tears.  His  own  exquisite  harmo- 
nies to  this  tune  (which  in  his  "  Trinity  Collection  " 
he  called  '*  Vision  ")  he  did  not  play  ;  so  I  think 
that  his  own  music — the  old  orrand  music  of  Trin- 
ity, — having  been  shut  up,  was  removed  by  my 
brother  Sebastian  and  myself,  when  we  found  it 
was  not  to  be  continued.  Handel's  melody  was 
left ;  and  this  came  out  full  of  sweetness.  But  it 
was  all  different,  all  changed,  as  if  the  golden  bowl 
was  indeed  broken,  and  the  silver  cord  loosed. 
Handel's  melody  was  finished.  Trinity  organ  knew 
my  Father  no  more. 

His  illness  necessitating  a  temporary  withdrawal 
from  his  position  at  Trinit)^  Church,  he  and  Mrs. 
Hodges  went  to  England  in  1859  ;  but  in  i860  we 
read  in  a  New  York  paper  : 

"  In  a  letter  to  C.  Jerome  Hopkins,  of  this  city, 
bearing  date  November  16,  Dr.  Edward  Hodges, 
the  venerable  organist  of  Trinity  Church,  who  is 
now  in  England,  says  : 

'*  '  It  is  possible  that  I  may  return  to  New  York 
in  the  spring  ;  many  circumstances  seem  to  point 
that  way.      With  the  powerful  aid  promised  me  by 


2  14  Edward  Hodges 


an  eminent  organist,  who  now  promises  to  go  with 
me  and  reh'eve  from  the  more  laborious  part  of  my 
duties  in  connection  with  Trinity  Church,  and  if  it 
please  God  that  my  health  should  continue  to 
mend,  I  may  perhaps  resume  my  old  post. 

'*  '  If  such  should  be  the  case,  I  am  happy  to  be- 
lieve that  there  are  not  a  few  warm-hearted  friends 
who  would  be  glad  to  welcome  me  once  more.'  " 

My  Father  returned  to  New  York  with  Mrs. 
Hodges,  and  remained  in  retirement  at  Woodlawn, 
in  the  Highlands  on  the  Hudson,  the  residence  of 
her  brother,  William  Moore,  Esq.,  until  her  death 
in  1861. 

There  is  another  heart-breaking  little  incident 
which  should  not  be  left  amongst  the  unrecorded, 
soon  forgotten  things  of  life. 

I  must  first  premise  that  when  residing  in  the 
Highlands  he  played  at  St.  Philip's  Church  on  a 
little  melodeon,  which  he  called  a  '*  short-winded 
affair,"  at  the  Sunday  services. 

The  tone  and  religious  voice  he  brought  from 
this  insignificant  little  machine  were  a  cause  of 
wonderment  to  many.  At  Woodlawn,  however, 
he  had  a  fine-toned  Alexandre  organ.  This  he 
managed  to  perfection  ;  it  was  exceedingly  difficult 
to  do  justice  to  its  delicacy  and  power,  and  sensi- 
tive  swell.      It   became    under   his    hand   a  most 


The  Last  Sounds  215 


beautiful  instrument,  unmanageable  to  all  but  an 
artist. 

Here  at  her  brother's,  my  second  mother  lay 
**  sick,  even  unto  death."  Devoted  to  my  Father's 
sacred  music,  she  asked  him  to  play  to  her  "  Rock 
of  Ages."  He  played  the  fine  old  Moravian  tune 
in  C  Minor,  to  which  he  always  adapted  the  hymn. 
It  was  a  supreme  moment.  Her  spirit,  borne  per- 
haps on  the  wings  of  that  music,  soon  after  rose 
"to  worlds  unknown." 

My  Father  had  closed  the  organ  ;  he  never 
opened  it  again.  He  presented  it  to  St.  Philip's 
Church  in  the  Highlands. 

At  the  Rectory  of  Grace  Church,  Newark,  the 
residence  of  his  son,  the  Rev.  J.  Sebastian  B. 
Hodges,  D.D.,  my  Father  spent  the  last  two  years 
of  his  sojourn  in  the  United  States.  He  finally 
sailed  for  England  with  his  son  Jubal,  June  3,  1863. 

It  is  towards  evening.  The  setting  sun-rays 
light  on  the  steeples  and  towers  of  the  many 
churches  of  Bristol.  The  weary  pilgrim  reaches 
the  hills  and  sees  spread  before  him  the  old  city  of 
his  birth  and  childhood  and  of  the  triumphs  of  his 
early  manhood. 

Leaning  on  the  arm  of  his  son  Jubal,  he  reaches 
the  house  of   his  beloved  and  only   sister,  Mary. 


2i6  Edward  Hodges 


The  family  gather  In  the  hall  to  welcome  their 
revered  relative ;  and  as  he  enters,  and  ere  he 
receives  one  word  of  greeting,  his  gentle  and  clear 
tones  are  heard  In  the  words  of  the  Christian  dis- 
ciples of  old, 

"  Peace  be  to  this  house." 

His  favourite  Fugues — when  did  he  leave  them 
off?  I  know  not  exactly,  but  perhaps  when  re- 
siding at  his  son's  in  1862  or  1863  ;  the  effort  I 
witnessed  may  have  been  the  last.  His  old  Broad- 
wood  was  there  ;  and  I  remember  how  he  opened 
Bach,  and  essayed  to  play.  His  fingers  did  not 
obey  to  his  satisfaction,  and  after  trying  one 
Fugue, — and  I  regret  I  cannot  remember  the  key, 
— he  said  a  few  words,  closed  the  book,  and  re- 
turned to  his  seat. 

He  was  a  constant  reader  of  good  novels  at  this 
time,  and  thus  his  mind  rested  ;  and  It  was  at  this 
time  also  he  said  to  me  that  he  admired  (or  liked) 
"  a  woman's  style  for  its  care  In  detail  and  power 
in  drawing  character." 

When  residing  at  Clifton,  it  was  a  great  pleasure 
to  him  to  be  drawn  in  his  Bath-chair  over  to  Kings- 
down  to  visit  his  sister  Mary,  Mrs.  R.  H.  Webb. 
We  were  all  gathered  In  the  drawing-room  one 
day   and  being   near   the  piano,   my    Father  was 


■>•>•>  ■>  5  ■> 
■>  t  -,  ■>  1  t 
1  ^  ■>    ■>    ■>         ■> 


^  ■>  ^ 


I      ■>        ID  »T^ 

■)  ■>  1   1     ">        -) 


1  -.1 


•  O  D    1     1  ■> 


1  •>•) 


1    1 


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> 


2 

O 


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u 


1    ( «  ' 
f  t     t 

t        f    r  r 


The  Last  Sounds  217 


moved  to  sit  down  at  it.  Instead  of  improvising 
much,  he  began  his  own  tune  *'  Haight."  This  he 
managed  well  for  a  verse  or  two,  and  at  last  the 
old  fire  kindled ;  the  inspiring  occasions  when  he 
made  his  superb,  exultant  chorus  ring  through  the 
Church  at  Christmas,  *'  Shout  the  glad  tidings, 
Messiah  is  King,"  may  have  flashed  across  his  spirit 
and  he  essayed  to  run  up  to  the  E  with  the  free- 
dom of  action  that  used  to  carry  us  all  along  with 
him,  but  alas  !  the  poor  hand  failed — the  eagle's 
wing  was  cut — and  it  could  soar  no  more  ! 

As  I  stood  beside  him,  hardly  keeping  back  the 
tears,  he  looked  up  in  my  face,  and  smiling,  with 
an  exceeding  sad  and  plaintive  voice  he  said  : 
"  I  used  to  make  a  good  run  there  ! " 
So  ''Haight"  was  the  last  tune  he  played.  I 
think  he  finished  it  on  this  occasion  ;  but  I  never 
heard  him  touch  a  piano  again. 

One  more  scene  : 

It  is  September  the  first,  1866,  in  his  little 
parlour,  where  near  the  window  stood  a  small,  good- 
toned  harmonium.  It  was  placed  so  that  its  back 
rested  against  the  dining-table,  and  the  player  sat 
with  back  to  the  window\ 

My  Father  again  was  suddenly  moved  to  play, 
which  I  do  not  remember  his  having  done  during 
the  fourteen  months  I  had  been  with  him. 


2i8  Edward  Hodges 


He  then  arose  from  his  chair  and  gently  helping 
himself  by  the  table,  he  walked  round  it  and  took 
his  seat  at  his  little  harmonium. 

He  began  with  his  soft,  sweet,  suggestive 
modulations,  and  played  a  little  while  in  the  key 
of   D  minor. 

SometJiing  crossed  that  sensitive  spirit ;  some 
whisper  reached  his  ear  perhaps  :  "  Not  here  !  not 
here!"  or  a  voice  may  have  said,  ''Come  up 
higher!"  I  know  not,  but  this  time  he  seemed 
to  realize  all.  He  gradually  finished  in  his  chosen 
key,  and  with  his  left  hand  slowly  followed  down 
the  notes  of  the  common  chord  : 


He  then  arose,  and  shut  down  the  organ  ;    and  as 
he  closed  it,  said  the  single  word  *'  Gone  I  " 

It  was  that  very  day  the  next  year,  September 
the  first,  1867,  that  his  spirit  fied,  and  I  then  could 
bitterly,  yet  thankfully,  realize  the  meaning  of  his 
one  word,  ''  Gone  !  " 

He  was  "  translated"  as  he  said. 

My  Father  had  a  peculiar  love  for  the  number 


The  Last  Sounds  219 


three,  and  he  wound  it  into  many  a  daily  associa- 
tion. His  three  knocks,  three  times  saying  or 
doing  a  thing,  and  (I  believe  not  original  with  him- 
self) his  three  coats,  ''  Heightem,  tightem,  and 
scrub." 

Remarkable  it  was,  that  ere  he  had  been  also 
"  translated  into  the  world  of  spirits  "  twice  twelve 
hours,  I  happened  to  glance  at  the  heavens,  and 
there  his  favourite  sign  was  written  :  for  I  instantly 
saw  the  three  stars,  the  chief  ones,  of  the  Constel- 
lation Aqziila. 

Never  has  my  eye  lit  upon  those  three  stars 
since,  but  the  memory  of  that  calm  September 
night,  with  its  threefold  tone  of  grandeur,  solemnity, 
and  grief,  has  come  back  to  me  afresh :  so  near  me 
in  that  bitter  realization  of  the  wonderful  unbroken 
repose  ;  so  far  from  me — the  dawning  of  his  im- 
mortality ! 

How  Mendelssohn's  lovely  solo  comes  floating 
back  to  the  memory  when  time,  so  Divinely  or- 
dered, has  dulled  the  edge  of  grief,  "Then  shall 
the  righteous  shine — shine — as  the  stars  in  their 
heavenly  Father's  realm." 

At  early  morning,  Sunday  morning,  he  left  us. 
"  Let  me  go  !  for  the  day  breaketh  ! " 


220 


Edward  Hodges 


His  last  words,  written  with  his  own  hand  in  his 
Diary,  at  Clifton,  in  July,  1865,  were  : 

"  Surely  goodness  and  mercy  shall  follow  me  all  the 
days  of  my  life,  and  I  will  dwell  in  the  house  of  the  Lord 
for  ever." 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


THE    CHURCHYARD    AT    STANTON    DREW. 


"  Eye  hath  not  seen,  ear  hath  not  heard,  neither  have  entered  into  the 
heart  of  man  the  things  which  GOD  hath  prepared  for  them  that  love 
Him." 

THE  retired  village  of  Stanton  Drew  in  this 
neighbourhood  was,  on  Friday  last,  the 
scene  of  a  solemnity  of  somewhat  more  than  usual 
impressiveness,  on  the  occasion  of  the  funeral  of  the 
late  Dr.  Hodges,  several  of  whose  ancestors  lie  in 
the  burial-ground  of  its  Church.  There  is  always 
something  peculiarly  touching  when  one,  long 
separated  from  early  connections,  who  has  achieved 
reputation  in  the  course  of  a  life,  is  brought,  per- 
chance, from  distant  regions,  to  join  them  in  the 
ancestral  grave.  But  in  this  case  the  feeling  was 
heightened  by  the  additional  circumstance  that,  as 
a  tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  the  deceased 
and  to  the  high  rank  he  held  in  the  musical  pro- 
fession, all  the  lay-vicars  or  clerks  of  the  Cathedral 
who  could  attend,  acting  on  the  kind  suggestion  of 
Mr.  Corfe,  handsomely  volunteered  to  sing  to  the 

221 


2  22  Edward  Hodges 


Composer's  own  music  those  portions  of  the  solemn 
ritual  of  the  dead  appointed  to  be  thus  rendered. 
The  other  parts  of  the  service  were  most  impres- 
sively read  by  the  Rev.  Robert  Taylor,  of  Norton- 
Malreward,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  E.  A.  Hoffman,  of 
New  York  :  the  first  an  old  friend,  at  St.  James's 
Church,  Bristol,  at  the  time  its  organ  was  in  charge 
of  Dr.  Hodges  ;  the  other,  his  intimate  acquaintance 
on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  one  who  knows 
better  than  any  one  living  how  highly  he  was 
esteemed  in  the  United  States. 

*'  Nothing  could  have  been  more  appropriate  or 
opportune,  as  Dr.  Hoffman  only  arrived  by  accident 
in  this  country  just  at  the  time  of  Dr.  Hodges'  de- 
cease, and  was  thus  enabled,  by  taking  part  in  the 
ceremony,  to  represent  that  large  body  of  Trans- 
Atlantic  friends,  whom  it  has  been  his  good  fortune 
to  attach  to  himself  during  his  residence  among 
them. 

"  The  90th  Psalm  was  admirably  chanted  by  six 
of  the  gentlemen  of  the  Cathedral  and  six  boys,  at 
the  opening  of  the  service,  while  the  corpse  rested 
within  the  sacred  edifice  ;  followed  at  the  grave 
in  the  part  assigned  to  it,  by  '  I  heard  a  voice 
from  Heaven,'  set  to  music  by  the  deceased, 
a  composition  of  the  most  exquisite  pathos,  and 
which  must  have  sent  a  thrill  through  the  breasts 


■>     ■>■>',•>•>■)     ■)■)        t    ' 


>      ■)     >       ■>         J     ■>    ' 


'  >  !-> 


z 

p 

z 


u 


72 


71 


(  *  f    ' 

t     r  < 


c     < 
r  r 


I  C       ,  f  (    C  {iff 

'*,,*'  t       ft 


t      <       ,       <.         '  <         r      f     < 

I  f      t       (    I     t        f<' 


The  Churchyard  at  Stanton  Drew     223 


of  all  present,  given  as  it  was  with  the  greatest 
precision  and  delicacy  by  such  an  able  band  of 
singers.  At  the  close,  and  following  the  Benedic- 
tion, Bach's  Chorale  from  his  '  Passion  Music,' 
No.  97,  '  O  Sacred  Head  now  wounded  ' ;  and  the 
friends  of  the  deceased  moved  away  deeply  im- 
pressed and  affected  by  a  solemnity,  such  as  was 
perhaps  never  witnessed  before  in  this  secluded 
village  district. 

"  There,  in  the  Druid's  Stone  Town,  by  the  side 
of  those  remarkable  remnants  of  primitive,  religious 
or  judicious  Institutions,  under  the  shadow  of  hills 
on  whose  summits  lie  entombed,  in  their  peculiar 
fashion,  the  Pagan  aborigines  who  here  met  in 
conclave — where  curiosity  or  love  of  antiquarian 
research  still  attracts  our  modern  wandering  sages 
— lies,  deposited  with  Christian  rites,  one  whose 
connection  with  this  hill-embosomed  spot  will  add 
to  it  a  further  interest,  different  in  kind  from  theirs. 

''  The  Christian  Church  and  Pagan  Temple,  still 
wearing  their  own  characteristic  forms,  the  expres- 
sion of  two  eras  in  human  progress,  one  of  which 
is  separated  from  the  present  moment  by  the  whole 
range  of  history,  while  the  same  sun  and  unchang- 
ing hills  and  groves  still  illumine  or  cast  their 
shadows  around  the  place  in  its  perfect  isolation, 
here  occupy  the  same  site. 


224  Edward  Hodges 


''  Nothing  but  the  speechless  stones  of  the  one 
remain  ;  but  the  other  will  still  tell  to  unborn  ages 
its  message  of  mercy  ;  and  the  voice  of  him  whose 
mortal  remains  have  just  been  committed  to  its 
keeping,  will  continue  to  speak  in  many  a  joyous 
and  devout  cadence  of  sacred  song,  though  no 
longer  in  the  body. 

"  It  would  be  impossible  in  such  a  place  and  on 
such  an  occasion  that  the  mind  should  not  be 
forcibly  arrested  by  thoughts  such  as  these,  in  part 
suggested  by  the  picturesqueness  and  hoar  antiquity 
of  the  surrounding  accompaniments  ;  and  we  offer 
this  apology  for  something  more  than  the  trivial 
notice  of  a  good  man's  obsequies." 

(From  the  pen  of  my  Father's  learned,  esteemed, 
and  affectionate  friend,  Alfred  Day,  Esq.,  LL.D., 
in  the  Bristol  Times  afid  Mirror,  September  6, 
1867.) 

It  is  the  6th  of  September,  1867. 

A  very  quiet  and  unpretending  funeral  proces- 
sion of  a  hearse  and  two  or  three  black  coaches 
was  seen  passing  along  the  shaded,  villa-lined  roads 
of  Clifton.  It  went  by  the  Cathedral,  and  through 
the  somewhat  narrow  and  tortuous  streets  of  old 
Bristol ;  the  very  scenes  of  his  childhood  and  early 


The  Churchyard  at  Stanton  Drew     225 


manhood.  It  passed  out  of  the  city,  and  followed 
the  road  that  crossed  the  Dundry  range  of  hills 
lying  southward  of  it.  It  wound  its  way  for  seven  or 
eight  miles  along  the  smooth  turnpike  road,  and 
through  quiet  villages  as  they  came  ;  when  turning 
to  the  right  it  entered  a  narrower,  tree-shaded  lane 
with  its  high,  thick  hedges,  and  here  and  there,  a 
lonely,  rural,  and  very  English  thatched  cottage. 
It  crossed  the  little  winding  river  Chew  by  its 
gothic,  stone-arched  bridge,  and  soon  reached  the 
Church  of  St.  Mary,  whose  ancient  tower  had  ap- 
peared above  the  trees  ;  while  from  it  there  came, 
at  intervals,  the  slow  sound  of  its  tolling  bell. 

There  were  farm-yards,  and  hay-ricks  ;  and  the 
cottagers,  as  they  heard  the  horses '  feet,  came  to 
their  doors  to  see. 

It  was  here,  to  this  quiet  village  churchyard, 
that  my  dear  Father  wished  to  be  carried.  And 
in  the  fact  of  its  being  his  wish — his  patriar- 
chal wish  we  may  say, — to  be  carried  back  and 
**  buried  with  his  fathers,"  the  vein  of  sentiment 
and  poetry  running  through  his  nature  is  very 
apparent,  and  is  most  touchingly  alluded  to  in  the 
heartfelt  words  of  his  friend  Dr.  Alfred  Day,  in 
his  appended  obituary  notice.  It  seems  that  here 
and  here  only  was  the  fitting  place  for  his  final  rest. 

If  he  stood  near  the  very  place  at  the  burial  of 


15 


226  Edward   Hodges 


his  aunt,  Elizabeth  Hodges,  in  September,  1834,  as 
I  feel  almost  sure  in  my  own  mind  he  did, — though 
I  have  but  memory  to  refer  to, — the  thought  of 
that  quiet  ancestral  spot  as  his  own  resting  place, 
may  have  received  further  fixedness  in  his  mind. 

It  is  very  quiet  there  !  The  birds  sing,  the  rain 
falls  gently  on  the  many  grass-grown  graves  and 
crumbling  tombstones.  The  sun  comes  up  be- 
hind the  eastern  aisles  and  gables  of  the  church 
close  by  ;  and  there  are  few  trees  to  interrupt  the 
broad  sheen  of  light  that  falls  around  until  the 
evening  shadows  come. 

The  pensiveness  of  the  poet  Gray's  spirit  might 
w^ell  have  been  his,  as  his  eye  fell  either  on  the  rich 
spread  of  country  around,  or  on  the  crumbling 
stones  at  his  feet,  with  their  letters  all  erased  or 
moss-grown,  and  realized  that  here  his  own  *'  fore- 
fathers slept."  It  was  his  habit  to  moralize,  as  he 
did  some  years  before  when,  wandering  in  Egham 
Churchyard,  he  saw  '*  divers  wooden  tombstones. 
At  first "  (he  says)  ''  I  smiled  at  the  folly  of  the 
parties  concerned  In  this  Tzmder  immortality  ;  but 
reflection  repressed  my  laughter.  All  our  monu- 
ments In  turn  have  crumbled,  do  crumble,  and  will 
crumble  to  dust,  be  they  of  what  material  they  may. 
Why  then  laugh  at  the  wooden  tombstone  ?  Mine 
be  of  paper,  or  still  more  frail  material." 


1      t    t  \   ■> 


1  >      1  T 


t     ^      •>      ■>  -,       ■, 


I     T    1    1        ■)    •)_ 


■>1  •»  1       •) 


■<->■>■, 


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■>■>■> 


■>  1      ■)  > 


Til 


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z 

CO 


r 


r 
c 


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C  If 

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t 
etc 


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:     »  »«>      <    ' 

■  f  •  •    •         c  ' 

C     (  (    '    '       '     ' 

r  <           f    t       «■ 


t         f 

c  r  c 

<       < 


It    r    f  (  t 


The  Churchyard  at  Stanton  Drew     227 


But  to  return.  A  low  wall  runs  around  the 
churchyard ;  ivies  and  evergreens  were  there  in 
plenty  ;  but  it  was  not  adorned  with  flower  beds, 
nor  had  it  well-kept  graves  with  floral  tokens  on 
them.  All  these,  with  many  other  signs  of  life 
and  care,  have  come  in  the  present  good  Vicar's 
time.  It  had  an  air  of  age  and  neglect  ;  still  it 
was  very  peaceful  and  sequestered.  Up  the  lane 
come  the  wagons  close  to  the  gate  and  the  hay- 
makers' voices  are  heard  from  the  farm-yard  close 
by,  and  the  merry  tones  of  children  at  their  play. 
But  the  busy  world,  with  its  toil  and  struggle 
and  unrest,  is  not  there.  The  bell  from  the  old 
tower  at  intervals  breaks  the  silence,  and  the  vil- 
lage folk  come  up  to  church  to  prayers. 

It  is  as  he  would  have  it,  and  it  is  fitting  and 
riofht  that  we  should  have  laid  him  there. 

Requiescat  in  Pace  ! 

An  American  gentleman  gives  this  account  of 
a  visit  to  the  grave  of  Dr.  Hodges,  November  6, 
1869. 

''  I  have  been  on  a  visit  to  some  friends  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Bristol.  Among  other  objects 
of  interest  I  visited,  were  the  Druidical  remains  at 
Stanton    Drew.     After    inspecting   these   gigantic 


228  Edward  Hodges 


monuments  which  time  has  not  been  able  to  de- 
stroy, although  countless  centuries  have  passed 
over  them,  I  paid  a  visit  to  the  village  church- 
yard, where  my  attention  was  arrested  by  a  hand- 
some white  marble  cross,  which  was  the  more 
conspicuous  from  its  being  surrounded  by  old-fash- 
ioned grave-stones,  over-grown  with  lichens,  moss, 
and  other  creeping  plants. 

''Judge  of  my  surprise  when  on  reading  the  In- 
scription, I  found  that  it  was  a  memorial  of  the 
distinguished  father  of  an  able  pastor  of  your  city, 
whose  church  I  generally  attend  when  a  resident 
in  Newark.  I  refer  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  Sebastian 
B.  Hodges,  the  deservedly  respected  Rector  of 
Grace  Church. 

"  The  monument,  as  I  have  said  before,  consists 
of  a  simple  Latin  cross,  which  rests  on  three 
blocks  of  marble.  The  grave  is  enclosed  in  a 
handsome  stone  setting,  within  which  were  groups 
of  scarlet  geraniums  in  full  flower,  which  were  evi- 
dently cared  for  by  a  loving  hand.  On  the  arm  of 
the  cross  is  engraved  this  passage  from  Holy 
Scripture  :  '  For  the  trumpet  shall  sound  and  the 
dead  shall  be  raised  incorruptible.'  On  the  three 
blocks  below  the  following  : 


The  Churchyard  at  Stanton  Drew     229 


'  Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Edward  Hodges. 
Doctor  in  Music,  of  Sydney  Sussex  College,  Cam- 
bridge, 
who  died  at  Clifton,  aged  71  years. 
Sometime  Organist  of  St.  James'  and  St.  Nicholas' 
Churches,  Bristol,  and  for  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury,  Director  of   the   Music   of   Trinity 
Church,  New  York,  U.  S. 
Departed  this  life  on  Sunday  morning  September 

I,  1867. 

This  Monument  to  an  honoured  Father  is  erected 

by  his  four  surviving  children  :  Faustina, 

Jubal,  Sebastian,  and  Asaph.'  " 

Three  seasons  have  passed  since  the  death  of 
Dr.  Hodges.  It  is  now  December  23,  1870,  and 
the  grave  is  opened  afresh,  and  the  remains  of  the 
beloved  Jubal  being  brought  down  from  London, 
are  laid  there  also. 

A  flat  stone,  round  which  flowers  are  planted, 
bears  the  following  inscription  : 


230  Edward  Hodges 


"  In  Loving  Memory 

Of  the  Rev.  Jubal  Hodges,  Presbyter  in  the 

Diocese  of  Pennsylvania,  U.  S. 

Born  in  Bristol,  Aug.  29,  1828,   Died  in   London, 

Dec.  15,  1870. 

He  was  a  sound  Theologian, 

A  Teacher  of  the  Truth, 

A  rare  Musician, 

A  man  of  a  gentle  and  loving  spirit, 

And  a  friend  of  the  poor. 

'  Blessed  and  holy  is  he  that  hath  part  in  the  First 

Resurrection.' 

This  stone  is  placed  here  to  his  beloved  memory 

by  his  sister  Faustina." 

The  Church  of  St.  Mary,  Stanton  Drew,  Somer- 
set, has  been  carefully  and  beautifully  restored  and 
chastely  decorated  under  the  supervision  of  the 
learned  and  estimable  Vicar,  the  Rev.  H.  T.  Perfect, 
the  Vicar  of  this  Parish  and  St.  John's,  Pensford. 

Two  brass  tablets  placed  in  this  Church  state 


■>    ■) 


>      ■)•>■>■> 

)    ■>         3  1-) 


•>■>■>■>      >  J, 

1        5  5          5  1  ' 

>              5  J 

5  113  : 


>>  J      5  J 
5  5    5 

555       ,   , 

'        5*     ^ 
5   5', 


5      5        5,^ 

5       5    5    5       5      5 

5     1  •.•,•. 


id 


2 

In 


'■J 
■ji 

'> 

ai 


r  <      « 

I    <     c  t  c     t 

r   <        <  ' 


<  < 


The  Churchyard  at  Stanton  Drew 


231 


this  fact  and  also  another,  viz.,  that  the  east  or 
chancel  window  of  this  Church  of  their  ancestors 
has  been  placed  here  by  Faustina  Hasse  Hodges, 
in  loving  memory  of  her  father  and  brother  sleep- 


ing here. 


"  Until  the  day  break,  and  the  shadows  flee  away." 


CHAPTER   XIX. 


DISCONNECTED    RECOLLECTIONS    EXTENDING    OVER 
MANY    YEARS.        SOLDIER    AND    SERVANT. 

MANY  are  the  manifestations  throughout  my 
Father's  Hfe  of  his  being  the  *'  faithful 
servant "  of  God.  He  loved  to  speak  of  the  Deity 
as  his  ''  Master,"  thereby  owning  His  personal  care 
and  guidance  ;  he  loved  to  speak  of  '*  His  service  " 
being  "  perfect  freedom "  ;  but  I  find  one  little 
entry  in  particular  that  gives  to  this  faithful  "  ser- 
vice "  a  grand  masculine  dignity.  The  ring  of  the 
Conqueror's  voice  is  heard  above  the  strife.  The 
tone  of  the  trumpet  rises  above  the  battle-smoke  ; 
there  may  be  death,  but  the  last  sound  will  be  Vic- 
tory in  this  "  warfare  that  knows  no  discharge." 
There  are  very  few  words — there  is  no  boast  about 
them,  but  they  evince  what  is  better,  viz.,  calm 
resolution. 

Simply  recognizing  the  fact,  he  says  :  *'  No  won- 
der then  the  Devil  tempts  me,  but  by  the  grace  of 
God  he  shall  not  succeed."     **  I  have  fought  him 

232 


Disconnected  Recollections  233 


for  many  years  on  this  very  point  ;  and  it  would  be 
a  shame  to  yield  to  him  now." 

There  were  three  characteristics  of  my  Father 
which  made  it  always  a  pleasure  to  others  to  get 
him  to  speak  his  mind,  viz.  :  his  kindness,  his 
knowledge,  and  his  perfect  honesty.  One  always 
got  what  one  wanted  from  him. 

There  is  a  little  incident  connected  with  the  late 
Rev.  Dr.  J.  H.  Hopkins  which  proves  the  above 
true.  Dr.  Hopkins,  it  is  well  known,  composed 
many  tunes  and  carols  for  Church  use,  and  early  in 
my  Father's  life  in  New  York  came  to  him  with  a 
bundle  of  MSS.  He  was  not  sure  of  himself  ;  and 
wanting  to  know  the  truth  he  placed  the  music  in 
my  Father's  hands  and  said  : 

''  Doctor,  will  you  please  look  over  these,  and  tell 
me  if  I  know  anything.  If  I  do  not,  please  to  say, 
No." 

He  waited  patiently  while  the  kind  face  bent  over 
his  work  ;  and  looking  at  Mr.  Hopkins  with  his  In- 
telligent, fatherly  smile,  my  Father  said  distinctly, 
''  Nor 

''  Thank  you,  Doctor  :  now  I  will  begin  to 
study." 

Of  course  my  Father  understood  that  Mr.  Hop- 
kins needed  to  get  a  thorough  hiowledge  of  Har- 
mony before  lie  wrote  more. 


2  34  Edward  Hodges 


fe 


My  Father  was  grandly  helpful  in  his  conversation y 
on  Music.  How  many  lessons  he  gave  unknow- 
ingly !  How  generous  he  was  to  all  young  people 
who  desired  to  learn  !  Truly  he  gave  of  his  talent 
in  a  princely  way. 

My  Father  always  attended  the  Philharmonic 
Concerts  in  New  York.  He  was  an  honorary  mem- 
ber of  the  Society,  and  was  held  in  high  esteem  by 
all  the  New  York  musicians.  His  entrance  was 
always  marked,  as  he  went  early,  and  no  doubt  en- 
joyed a  chat  with  some  of  them.  As  they  gath- 
ered, each  with  his  ''  Fiddle  "  or  Flute  or  Horn  or 
Bass,  etc.,  one  looked  at  my  Father  and  said, 
'*  Doctor,  where  is  j^'6'^r  instrument  ?" 

Fancy  the  New  York  Philharmonic  in  one  of 
Beethoven's  grand  Andantes,  with  Trinity  Organ 
at  its  back,  and  Dr.  Hodges  at  the  keys  ! 

My  Father  enjoyed  the  Symphonies  of  Beetho- 
ven, as  rendered  by  the  Philharmonic,  intensely, 
and  he  always  spoke  with  grief  and  intense  feeling 
of  the  sorrows  that  fell  around  the  latter  years  of 
the  great  Master. 

For  Haydn  he  had  a  great  admiration  :  he  said, 
'*  His  music  is  not  yet  duly  appreciated." 

And  with  a  kindling  enthusiasm  he  always  men- 
tioned the  grand  old  Musician's  last  act :  when,  as 
the  French  Army  was  approaching  in  1809,  he  arose 


Disconnected  Recollections  235 


from  his  bed  to  play  his  national  Hymn,  *'  God  save 
the  Emperor." 

That  loyal  patriotism  awoke  a  responsive  chord 
in  my  Father's  heart. 

For  Mozart  as  a  Fugue  writer,  he  had  a  high 
estimation  ;  and  It  will  be  noticed  that  he  used  often 
to  play  the  music  of  ''  Don  Giovanni  "  In  his  Bris- 
tol home.  When  In  St.  John's  Church,  New  York, 
he  frequently  used  his  own  "  Service  In  F,"  which 
was  a  favourite.  Not  knowing  whose  it  was,  Presi- 
dent N.  F.  Moore  said  to  him  that  the  harmony  of 
the  verse  ''  When  Thou  hadst  overcome  the  sharp- 
ness of  death "  was  singularly  like  that  in  the 
*'  Statue  Scene  "  In  "  Don  Juan." 

It  is  certainly  a  powerful  passage,  and  though 
different  In  treatment  and  result  from  **  Don 
Giovanni,"  bears  some  similarity  to  It.  I  notice  a 
chord  In  It  which,  to  my  mind,  exemplifies  my 
Father's  theory  of  *'  two  Fundamental  Basses." 
This,  however,  must  remain  but  a  supposition. 
He  smiled  at  the  Idea  of  any  of  his  Music  for 
the  Church  resembling  Opera  Music. 

He  early  Inculcated  In  us  a  great  respect  for 
books.  "  Never  sit  upon  a  book  ;  never  trig  up  a 
piece  of  furniture  with  a  book,  nor  make  any  use 
of  It  but  that  for  which  it  is  intended.  Do  not  turn 
down   leaves  to  mark  your  place,  nor  scribble  in 


236  Edward  Hodges 


them  ;  nor,  when  you  read,  hold  them  in  the  middle 
and  leave  thumb  marks.  Always  note  the  Author, 
and  read  the  Preface." 

He  had  a  custom  of  very  finely  marking  pas- 
sages, and  then  noting  the  page  in  the  cov^ers,  add- 
ing a  few  terse  remarks. 

Thus,  one  of  his  books  gave  double  instruction. 
It  was  like  following  the  steps  of  a  leader  in  a  diffi- 
cult footway.  His  mind  had  a  splendid  grasp  of  a 
subject.  His  knowledge  seemed  to  extend  above, 
below,  and  back  of  it.  If  we  wanted  information 
on  any  point  he  could  place  it  plainly  before  us, 
the  limits  of  his  own  mind  never  erecting  a  boun- 
dary to  a  subject.  Thus  he  taught  us  to  tJmik. 
Such  an  example  and  such  an  encouragement  to 
reading  was  an  education  in  itself,  and  makes  the 
best  school-routine  (except  for  its  discipline)  fall 
into  insignificance. 

He  constantly  referred  us  to  the  '*  Encyclopaedia 
Metropolitana,"  and  if  we  were  at  a  loss  for  the 
meaning  of  a  word,  would  say  *'  Turn  it  out  ! "  and 
down  came  the  dictionary. 

I  must  relate  his  wonderfully  wise  and  gentle 
mode  of  punishing  me  as  a  child  for  disobedience. 

The  Bishop's  Garden  was  used  by  the  Subsacrist 
of  the  Cathedral ;  and  one  day  I  saw  a  saddled 
horse   grazing    there.       My    brother    George    F. 


Disconnected  Recollections  237 


Hodges,  with  other  boys,  was  going  into  the  gar- 
den ;  and  though  I  was  told  by  my  father  not  to 
go  there,  (he  was  out,  so  that  I  could  not  get  per- 
mission at  this  time,)  I  was  so  tempted  by  the  horse 
and  the  assistance  of  my  brother,  that  into  the  gar- 
den I  went.  Years  afterwards  proved  me  a  fearless 
horsewoman,  and  this  was  my  first  attempt. 

I  was  soon  mounted  (on  a  man's  saddle)  and 
was  enjoying  my  ride  immensely,  when  not  being 
able  to  guide  the  horse  well,  he  took  me  under  a 
large  hawthorn  tree,  and  my  neck  and  arms  got 
terribly  scratched  by  the  sharp  thorns. 

When  my  F'ather  returned,  he  summoned  me 
(or  I  went)  to  his  study.  ''  What 's  this  ?  What 
are  all  these  scratches  ?"  he  said,  looking  at  my 
disfigured  neck  and  arms,  and  perhaps  face — for  I 
do  not  remember. 

**  I  went  into  the  Bishop's  Garden,  sir,  and  got 
on  the  horse,  and  he  dragged  me  under  the  haw- 
thorn tree." 

**  Did  I  not  tell  you  no^  to  go  into  the  Bishop's 
Garden  ?" 

*'  Yes,  sir." 

**  Then  you  must  leave  my  presence,  and  not  see 
me  again  till  those  scratches  are  healed  !  " 

I  felt,  oh  !  worse  than  Gehazi  indeed  !  with  the 
leprosy  of  sin. 


238  Edward   Hodges 


He  was  order  himself  In  every  way — In  every 
detail.  It  was  one  of  his  most  strikinor  character- 
Istics.      How  often  he  quoted  to  us, 

"  Order  is  Heavens  first  law'' 

Once  he  detected  holes  In  my  gloves.  I  made 
him  laugh  by  saying  :  "  A  token  of  genius,  sir!" 

He  said,  **  I  would  rather  see  genius  manifest 
Itself  In  some  more  tidy  way." 

He  used,  at  his  Hudson  Street  home,  often  at 
evening  to  take  down  from  the  shelves  some  work, 
and  we  would  gather  around  him  to  watch,  or  sing. 
Sometimes  It  was  a  volume  of  Haydn's  or  Mozart's 
Masses,  (In  which  case  he  would  say  "  Give  me  the 
good  old  Latin  pronunciation,")  or  Crotch's  **  Pal- 
estine," or  Romberg's  "  Lay  of  the  Bell,"  Neu- 
komm's  ''  David,"  etc.,  etc.  One  evening  when 
playing  from  Romberg,  he  had  come,  before  he  was 
aware,  to  the  part  where  the  bell  is  tolling  for  a 
funeral — the  funeral  of  a  wife  and  mother. 

He  suddenly  closed  the  book  and  put  It  back  on 
the  shelf. 

Forty  years  have  passed  since  that  little  scene 
took  place,  yet  the  very  key  (F  minor)  and  the 
chords  of  that  music  are  Impressed  on  my  mind.  I 
understood  my  Father. 

I  remember  his  morning  reading  ; .  his  step  from 


Disconnected  Recollections  239 


his  room  to  his  study  (he  never,  except  on  Sundays, 
joined  his  family  at  the  breakfast  table)  ;  the  sound 
of  the  little  bolt  as  he  drew  it,  for  his  private  devo- 
tions.     His  Bible  was  thus  his  first  readinof. 

After  withdrawing  the  bolt,  as  regularly  followed 
his  daily  Fugue,  according  to  the  day  of  the  month. 
This  practice  he  observed  in  New  York,  as  well  as 
in  his  old  Cloister  home,  to  which  my  mind  so 
faithfully  reverts.  I  learned  much  from  standing 
at  his  left  hand  ;  and  as  soon  as  I  was  able,  he  liked 
me  to  put  in  the  lower  part,  as  Pedal  Bass. 

Before  playing  a  piece  myself,  he  told  me  always 
to  play  a  Prelude  ;  to  improvise  a  little,  so  as  to  get 
quite  used  to  the  touch  of  the  instrument.  And 
always  to  take  heed  at  the  endy  and  bring  in  the 
final  chords  well. 

"  A  blunder  in  the  middle  is  not  so  important ; 
while  a  blunder  at  the  end  spoils  the  whole  piece." 

One  piece  of  advice  which  he  gave  me  has  lasted 
me  through  life  :  "  Never  show  the  people  what 
you  cannot  do." 

Of  my  organ  playing  he  said,  that  I  could  ^'  pre- 
pare people's  minds  for  Divine  Service." 

What  I  inherited  from  my  Father  was  of  more 
value  than  all  the  acquirement  I  could  gain,  indeed 
it  was  all. 

He  said  "  No  woman   could  play    the    organ." 


240  Edward   Hodges 


And  In  this,  as  In  all  else,  he  was  perfectly  true 
and  right 

He  spoke  from  his  own  unapproachable  summit. 

On  my  shewing  him  one  of  my  earliest  composi- 
tions he  helped  and  strengthened  me  much  by  these 
words  : 

''  What  is  original  Is  not  good,  and  what  Is  good 
is  not  original." 

Of  course  he  alluded  to  its  being  "  original  " 
with  me  /  as  he  afterwards  told  me  that  the  same 
thought  might  be  '*  original  "  with  many  people. 

Of  marks  in  music,  he  said  :  "  They  were  not  of 
much  consequence.  Musicians  did  not  need  them  ; 
and  those  who  were  not  musicians,  would  not  heed 
them." 

In  improvising  I  think  my  Father  thought  it  best 
to  *'  say  a  good  deal  in  one  key,"  rather  than  change 
too  much. 

The  graceful  melodies  which  my  Father  threw 
into  the  Tenor  and  Alto  parts  of  the  tunes  he  ar- 
ranged, as  well  as  into  his  own  compositions,  are 
very  widely  observed.  Once  I  remarked  on  the 
Tenor  part  being  very  low :  he  said,  "  I  did  not 
wish  the  Tenor  to  bawl  there."  (It  was  in  a  prayer- 
ful passage.) 

Our  Father  always  checked  at  once  any  unkind 
remark  of  an  absent  person  ;  and  any  quotation  of 


Disconnected  Recollections  241 


Scripture  for  any  but  a  serious  purpose.  He  would 
not  allow  those  riddles  to  be  repeated  which  were 
grounded  on  Scripture  names. 

When  his  two  sons  were  taking  Orders  he  re- 
quested there  should  never  be  any  controversies, 
arguments,  or  even  conversations  upon  agitated 
points  (at  that  time  acute),  nor  the  names  "  High  " 
and  **  Low  "  (Church)  mentioned. 

A  daughter  of  one  of  the  Professors  at  the  Gen- 
eral Theological  Seminary  said  to  me,  *'  Generally, 
we  hear  the  Psalter  sung  ;  when  Dr.  Hodges  plays, 
we  hear  the  Psahjis  of  David.'' 

His  "  rattling  off  "  a  Fugue  or  two  of  John  Se- 
bastian Bach  meant  so  much  !  It  meant  mastery y 
and  it  meant  that  it  lived  again  under  his  fingers. 

It  was  a  grand  thing  to  hear  him  have  a  "  good 
rummage  "  on  a  piano.  The  poor  thing  did  its 
best,  but  it  seemed  to  shake  under  his  touch  as  it 
talked  ! 

And  at  the  organ,  a  *'  free  improvisation  "  was 
indeed  a  grand  thing  to  hear. 

One  old-fashioned  good  ''jig"  my  Father  played 
when,  at  rare  times,  he  felt  full  of  musical  fun.  It 
was  in  B** ;  the  harmony  excellent,  the  character 
decisive  ;  and  as  he  "  rattled  it  off,"  his  eyes  would 
gleam  and  flash,  and  his  face  beam  with  playful 
light.     O  for  the    sound  of   it   again  !      How  his 


x6 


242  Edward  Hodges 


left  hand  rolled  out  the  octave  passages  !     It  was 
capital  ! 

Here  are  some  helpful  words  of  wisdom  from 
my  Father,  written  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight. 

"  Let  a  man  accustom  himself  to  a  constant  walk  with 
God  ;  let  him  have  a  continual  sense  of  His  Presence 
Who  fiileth  all  things,  and  the  best  prayer  will  be  that 
which  ascends  spontaneously  from  his  heart,  as  he  walks, 
as  he  works,  as  he  reads,  as  he  amuses  himself,  as  he  talks, 
and  indeed  in  every  transaction  in  which  he  may  be  en- 
gaged. I  sometimes  have  this  habit  ;  would  to  GOD  that 
I  had  it  more  generally  !  There  is  no  greater  preservative 
from  sin.'' 

From  his  Diary. 

''July  J  8,  1853. 

"'  Many  serious  reflections  upon  the  vanity  of  the  world 
and  the  brevity  of  human  life  pervaded  my  mind  to-day. 
These  were  particularly  superinduced  by  some  awful  sen- 
sations occasionally,  in  my  brain,  (Can  a  man  of  my  spare 
habit  die  of  apoplexy  ?)  and  by  an  examination  of  my 
Daguerrotypes,  showing  as  they  do  most  unequivocally 
decided  marks  of  age.  The  good  Lord  give  me  grace  to 
be  ready  when  my  appointed  time  shall  come." 

"  July  20,  i8s3' 

"  Fifty-seven  years  old  this  day !  Alas  !  alas !  what 
have  I  done  in  all  that  time  ?  What  that  can  be  remem- 
bered fifty-seven  years  hence?  Can  every  man  of  the 
millions  which  co-exist  upon  the  earth,  attain  to  celebrity 
or  extensive  usefulness  ?  That  can  scarcely  be.  The  bulk 
of  mankind  must  ever  be  of  the  class  of  the  ig7toti,  if  not 
ignobiles ;  and  I  must  be  content  to  be  one  of  them.    And 


Disconnected  Recollections  243 


what  odds  ?  What  difference  (to  use  a  form  of  speech 
very  common  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic),  what 
difference  will  it  make  a  hundred  years  hence,  whether  a 
man  has  attained  to  a  distinguished  position  in  this  world 
or  not  ?  So  all  be  right  for  the  great  account,  the  trum- 
pery affairs  of  earth  are  of  little  consequence.  But  we 
must  bear  with  them  whilst  here,  and  make  the  best  of 
them." 

My  Father's  words  on  another  life  : 

'*  Were  I  asked  what  is  the  greatest  pleasure  man  is 
capable  of,  I  should  answer  '  Anticipation.' 

"  Every  pleasure  is  greater  in  expectation  than  in  the 
enjoyment.  How  great  then  the  enjoyment  of  Heaven, 
where  our  actual  bliss  will  exceed  our  present  highest  ex- 
pectations, and  where  new  expectations  of  still  higher 
happiness  will  be  continually  generated  and  realized. 

"  Is  it  to  be  imagined  that  Heaven  is  a  place  of  idleness 
or  listlessness?  From  the  contemplation  of  the  struc- 
ture of  my  own  mind  I  should  imagine  not ;  for  I  could 
not  be  happy  in  such  a  state.  If  we  shall  be  at  all  like 
unto  our  glorious  Creator,  we  shall  be  wonderful  in  work- 
ing, though  not  endued  with  the  attribute  of  Omnipo- 
tence. 

"  Then  the  certainty  of  an  everlasting  duration  will  give 
such  a  zest  to  our  undertakings  as  no  sublunary  being 
ever  yet  experienced.  Fatigue,  sorrow,  sin,  pain,  will 
cease,  and  GOD  will  be  glorified  in  all  His  creatures.  My 
prayer  is  to  be  made  useful  ;  not  to  be  a  dead  letter,  even 
in  this  nether  world." 


CHAPTER  XX. 

REMINISCENCES  BY  DR.   MORGAN  DIX. 

"  Trinity  Rectory,  New  York, 

"  November  6,  1882. 

"  My  dear  Miss  Hodges  : 

**  Your  request,  that  I  should  write  out  and  send 
you  such  reminiscences  of  your  honored  Father 
as  my  memory  enables  me  to  give  you,  is  one  with 
which  I  am  most  happy  to  comply  ;  only  I  fear  that 
the  sum  of  them  may  amount  to  but  little,  and 
prove  of  small  value. 

**  Although  I  was  numbered  among  his  enthusi- 
astic admirers,  and  had  the  privilege  of  a  most 
agreeable  personal  acquaintance  with  him,  yet  I 
was  not  on  terms  of  such  close  intimacv  as  to  have 
opportunities  of  observing  and  treasuring  up  in 
recollection  the  multitudinous  little  traits  and  indi- 
vidualities which  furnish  the  material  for  accurate 
portraiture,  still,  you  shall  have  what  I  recall  of 
the  days  when  I  knew  him  ;  days  when  he  was  in 
full  strength  and  vigor,  and  at  the  summit  of  his 
professional  reputation  and  success. 

244 


Reminiscences  by  Dr.  Morgan  Dix     245 


**  My  recollections  go  back  to  the  time  when  I 
was  a  student  in  Columbia  College,  and  when 
Trinity  Parish  was  my  ecclesiastical  home.  Your 
Father  was  connected  with  that  Parish  from  the  year 
1839  until  his  resignation  of  his  office,  in  June,  1863. 

*'  As  a  youth  I  listened  with  delight  and  wonder 
to  his  music  as  I  heard  it  in  the  Parish  Church  and 
elsewhere  ;  and  later,  when  I  entered  the  General 
Theological  Seminary,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  becom- 
ing acquainted  with  the  great  Master,  and  of  receiv- 
ing some  instruction  from  him  to  which  I  shall 
presently  refer.  I  will  write  down,  as  simply  as 
possible,  what  occurs  to  me  in  relation  to  him  pro- 
fessionally and  personally. 

"  I  should  not  have  the  effrontery  to  undertake 
the  part  of  musical  critic  in  this  connection  ;  I  am 
neither  a  practised  musician  nor  yet  a  critic  of  mu- 
sicians or  music.  But,  merely  as  a  person  of 
sufficient  culture  to  know  what  is  good,  and  of 
sufficient  appreciation  to  feel  the  power  of  the  divine 
art,  I  have  a  right  to  bear  my  non-professional 
witness.  The  highest  veneration  for  his  great 
ability,  the  warmest  admiration  of  their  results  : 
these  sum  up  what  I  would  say. 

"  As  years  go  by,  we  look  more  fondly  to  the 
past,  and  what  is  there  often  charms  us  more  than 
the  things  immediately  about  us.     Without  draw- 


246  Edward  Hodges 


ing  any  comparisons,  however,  I  will  say  that  my 
education  in  Church  music,  such  as  it  was,  began 
under  him,  and  that  the  tastes  fostered  under  the 
inspiration  of  his  genius  have  never  been  essentially 
changed. 

"  It  was  at  the  Parish  Church  that  we  used  to 
hear  your  Father  in  his  full  power.  If  the  organ 
in  that  edifice  be,  as  is  said  to  be,  one  of  the 
noblest  in  the  country, — in  some  respects  indeed, 
superior  to  any  others, — it  is  sufficient  to  say  of 
him,  in  order  to  describe  him  in  one  word,  that  in 
him  that  magnificent  instrument,  or  aggregation 
of  instruments,  found  and  recognized  its  master. 
No  hand  ever  touched  those  keys,  before  or  since, 
with  greater  vigor,  with  greater  delicacy  ;  none 
knew  more  thoroughly  what  it  was,  or  what  it  could 
be  made  to  do.  It  was  wonderful  to  listen,  while 
he  played  ;  the  vast  fabric  seemed  to  roll  forth 
broad  rivers  of  sound,  deep  and  full  as  the  sea  ;  it 
was,  sometimes,  as  if  the  flood-gates  had  been  lifted 
up  beneath  which  unfathomable  waters  were  falling 
through  the  space  between  us  and  their  source. 
Again,  the  listener  was  fain  to  hold  his  breath  to 
catch  the  faintest  echoes  from  the  far  away. 

"As  for  the  harmonies  in  his  compositions  and 
in  his  numerous  original  arrangements  of  the  old 
Church  Tunes,  they  were  delicious  ;  they  fed  and 


Reminiscences  by  Dr.  Morgan  Dix     247 


filled  the  artistic  and  religious  sense  within  us  ; 
something  within  vibrated  to  their  strange  and 
massive  combinations. 

"  Times  have  greatly  changed  since  the  days  to 
which  I  now  refer.  Trinity  Church  was  far  away  ; 
not  easily  accessible  ;  sllmly  attended  ;  one  would 
hardly  know  it  now  for  the  same  place.  But  no 
man  ever  had  more  appreciative  listeners  than  your 
Father  ;  and  the  lovers  of  art  felt  amply  rewarded 
in  surmounting  the  difficulties  of  attending  at  the 
services  In  that  distant  region,  by  the  delight  expe- 
rienced in  the  dignity,  the  gravity,  the  solemnity  of 
the  choral  parts  of  the  office. 

"  I  had  a  dear  brother,  younger  than  myself,  a 
charmlnof  musician  and  a  man  of  most  cultivated 
taste.  He  was  one  of  those  who  were  passionately 
fond  of  your  Father's  playing,  and  never  wearied 
of  listening  to  It ;  he  would  come  home,  after  a 
great  service  at  the  Church,  enthusiastic  at  what 
he  had  heard,  and  sitting  down  at  the  piano-forte, 
would  draw  upon  his  memory  and  try  to  give  me  an 
idea  of  the  management  of  certain  themes,  or  the 
effect  of  certain  passages. 

*'  You  need  no  words  of  mine  to  tell  you  how 
Dr.  Hodges  was  esteemed  In  Trinity  Parish.  Briefly, 
it  might  be  said,  that  the  Parish  Church  and  Its 
organist  appeared  to  accord  entirely  ;  what  Trinity 


248  Edward  Hodges 


Church,  the  creation  of  Richard  Upjohn,  was  to 
architecture  in  the  United  States,  the  music  at 
Trinity  was  to  other  Parishes  throughout  the  coun- 
try. It  will  be  generally  admitted,  I  think,  that, 
notwithstandlnof  the  fact  that  it  was  the  first  p^reat 
Church  erected  In  our  communion  in  this  country, 
and  although  others  of  much  larger  capacity  and  of 
higher  pretensions  have  been  built  since  it  was  con- 
secrated, none  surpasses  It  to-day,  if  any  equals  it, 
in  dignity,  statellness,  and  grandeur  of  effect.  It  is 
a  monument  of  the  ability  of  the  remarkable  man 
who  planned  and  built  It,  and  In  no  subsequent 
work  did  he  excel  what  he  did  then.  Even  so,  In 
my  judgment,  the  fame  of  the  old  organist  has 
never  been  exceeded  since  he  left  us  ;  nor  has  the 
traditional  power  of  his  name  and  example  lost  its 
force.  The  sense  of  decorum,  the  depth  and  rich- 
ness of  the  great  schools  of  musical  art,  the  man- 
liness and  strength  of  the  Anglican  thought,  the 
grave  religiousness,  which  wise  men  venerate,  still 
notably  mark  the  order  of  our  services  ;  nor  are 
our  annals  disgraced  by  meretricious  shallowness, 
or  namby-parr^  v  nonsense,  or  the  loose  and  wanton 
proceedings  which  charm  the  vulgar  ear.  What- 
ever changes  the  days  may  have  brought,  a  Spirit 
V  wells  within  that  fane,  to  drive  off  whosoever 
would  violate  the  sanctity  of  the  place. 


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Reminiscences  by  Dr.  Morgan  Dix     249 


*'  I  should  like,  however,  to  say  one  thing  here,  in 
the  hope  that  I  shall  find  you  in  sympathy  with  me, 
though  others  decline  to  view  the  matter  in  the 
same  light.  I  think,  then,  that  we  have  lost  some- 
thing in  changing  the  pitch  of  the  organ.  The 
original  pitch  was  lower  than  the  present ;  the 
effects  produced  were,  to  my  ear,  Immeasurably 
superior,  more  tender,  more  sombre,  more  thought- 
ful, though,  certainly,  less  brilliant.  The  alteration 
was  made  in  an  underhand  way,  without  the  knowl- 
edge or  consent  of  the  authorities  of  the  Parish  ; 
the  story  Is  a  strange  one,  which  I  could  not  relate 
without  becoming  unfairly  personal.  But  In  order 
to  secure  the  co-operation  of  an  orchestra  of  string 
and  wind  instruments,  the  pitch  was  surrepti- 
tiously changed,  and  raised  to  that  adopted  by  the 
Philharmonic  Society,  while  the  Rector  and  Ves- 
try-Committee Imagined  that  nothing  beyond  a 
much-needed  cleaning  and  some  slight  repairs 
were  In  progress.  Of  course  you  understand  that 
this  was  done  after  your  Father's  connection  with 
the  Church  had  been  terminated,  by  his  attack  of 
paralysis ;  he  was  not  responsible  for  It.  I  am 
sorry  it  was  done,  and  yet  in  this  sentiment  I 
find  little  sympathy,  and  am  generally  regarded, 
by  those  to  whom  I  utter  complaint,  with  a  mild 
and  pitying  wonder.     But  I  presume  that  It  Is  be- 


250  Edward   Hodges 


cause  I  am  not  myself  in  harmony  with  the  noise, 
shrillness,  and  self-assertion  which,  in  this  genera- 
tion, appear  to  be  among  the  main  conditions  to 
popularity  and  success. 

''  My  personal  acquaintance  with  your  Father  be- 
gan when  I  was  a  student  in  the  Seminary.  On 
the  17th  of  December,  1851,  the  Church  Choral 
Society  was  formed.  It  had  for  its  object  the  study 
of  the  Cathedral  Music  of  the  Church  of  England, 
and  for  its  ambition  the  public  performance  of  a 
Choral  Service,  in  this  city,  if,  by  any  fortunate 
change  of  affairs,  and  abatement  in  prejudices,  per- 
mission could  be  obtained  to  exhibit  so  fearful  and 
startling  an  innovation  on  all  uses  then  known 
among  us.  We  met  for  practice  in  the  school  build- 
ing in  the  rear  of  St.  John's  Chapel  ;  Dr.  Hodges 
was  our  drill-master,  Cho7^ag2ts  and  Coryphcetcs.  I 
cannot  tell  you  how  much  I  enjoyed  our  evenings, 
nor  how  proud  I  was  of  taking  part  in  the  first 
public  service.  It  was  held  on  Tuesday  in  Easter 
week,  April  13,  1852,  in  Trinity  Church,  at  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The  Rev.  Messrs.  Shackel- 
ford, Webbe,  Elmendorf,  and  Hopkins  officiated, 
and  the  responses  and  choral  parts  were  given  by 
our  Society. 

'*  The  church  was  filled  to  overflowing,  and  the 
impression  produced  was  profound.     After  that  it 


Reminiscences  by  Dr.  Morgan  Dix     251 


was  only  a  question  of  time  how  long  it  would  be 
till  the  fulness  of  our  triumph  over  the  fears  and 
dislikes  of  the  crude  and  untaught  people.  To 
your  Father  belongs  a  large  share  in  the  honors  of 
that  memorable  occasion. 

''  I  have  some  most  ao^reeable  recollections  of 
evenings  spent  at  his  house,  where  we  were  always 
delightfully  entertained  by  his  conversation,  and 
made  heartily  welcome.  The  talk  generally  turned 
on  musical  themes,  or  subjects  Interesting  to  the 
theologian,  the  ecclesiastic,  and  the  artist.  Your 
Father's  face,  as  I  remember  It,  was  animated  and 
earnest  ;  his  manners  were  polished,  his  eye  bright 
and  clear,  his  air  that  of  a  genial  and  courteous 
o^entleman.  His  costume  orave  him  the  look  of  a 
dignitary  of  the  church  ;  he  wore,  If  I  mistake  not, 
a  coat  of  seml-clerlcal  cut  and  a  white  cravat  ;  his 
hat  was  of  peculiar  shape,  and  ample  enough  In  brim 
to  have  passed  for  that  of  an  Archdeacon  at  the 
very  least.  As  to  his  shoes,  I  shall  never  forget 
them,  modelled,  apparently  on  the  pattern  of  a 
bricklayer's  trowel,  they  ran  out  to  sharp  points  in 
front ;  and  I  never  could  imagine  what  was  the 
secret  of  that  strange  construction,  which  Indeed 
was  unlike  anything  except  the  specimens  given  by 
Baldulnus  In  his  work  De  Calceo  Antiqtio,  or  Julius 
Nigronius  de  Callga.     But  on  enquiry  it  appeared 


252  Edward  Hodges 


that  he  had  his  shoes  in  that  shape  for  the  more 
convenient  manip — no,  I  should  say  /^^ipulation 
of  the  instrument  ;  since,  in  fact,  the  pedals  were 
arranged  like  the  sticks  of  an  open  fan  which  radiate 
from  a  centre  ;  and  the  sharp-toed  shoes  went  in 
and  out,  and  up  and  down  among  them  in  a  way 
which  must  have  been  seen  to  be  appreciated. 

'*  His  manners  had  a  certain  crispness  which  con- 
stituted especial  charm  for  his  friends  and  was  not 
without  effect  on  foes,  if  he  had  any  ;  and  his  speech 
was,  as  it  were,  full  of  punctuation  marks  and  notes 
of  emphasis,  as  became  a  man  who  had  strong  con- 
victions and  scrupled  not  to  express  them  if  neces- 
sary. Yet  there  was  often  in  his  face  an  expression 
which  bespoke  the  profoundly  religious  spirit.  That 
fine  profile  portrait  of  him  which  you  remember 
and  which  now  hangs  in  the  Vestry  Room  at  the 
Church  is  an  ideal  h.ead  ;  the  face  is  that  of  one  who, 
in  "  beating  out  his  music,"  meditates  of  holy 
themes  and  seems  to  hear  the  voices  of  another 
world. 

*'  I  remember  among  other  lessons  taught  me  by 
your  Father,  one  which  sank  deep  into  my  soul  and 
brought  forth  fruits  of  penitence  then.  On  the  oc- 
casion to  which  I  now  refer,  I  was  the  victim  of  the 
arts  of  a  friend,  who,  if  his  eye  should  ever  fall  on 
these   words,   would  no   doubt   recall   his   conduct 


Reminiscences  by  Dr.  Morgan  Dix     253 


with  compunction,  and  bless  my  forbearance  in  not 
naming  him. 

"  He  was  an  organist,  and  a  most  successful 
choir-master,  and  among  the  most  intense  and  en- 
thusiastic admirers  and  disciples  of  Dr.  Hodges. 
Whenever  he  had  the  good  luck  to  get  to  New 
York,  his  first  move  was  to  repair  to  Trinity 
and  bathe  himself  all  over  in  the  grand  music. 
This  man  and  I  being  on  most  intimate  terms,  and 
he  being  desirous  of  obtaining  a  copy  of  your 
Father's  arrangement  of  '  Luton,'  yet  not  daring 
to  ask  for  it,  conceived  the  idea  of  using  me  as  a 
cat's  paw  to  pull  out  the  coveted  chestnut.  So  he 
wheedled  me  into  writing  a  letter  to  Dr.  Hodges, 
and  asking  for  a  copy  ;  which  I  did  in  the  innocency 
of  my  heart,  and  the  simplicity  of  my  hands.  But 
in  due  time  I  got  a  letter,  and  such  a  rating  as  my 
temerity  deserved  ;  probably  the  Doctor  suspected 
the  concealed  hand,  and  plied  the  lash  across  the 
shoulders  of  the  real  culprit ;  informing  me  that  a 
Musician's  compositions  were  his  property  and  his 
fortune,  that  they  had  a  market  value,  and  that  it 
was  no  joke  to  be  giving  away,  right  and  left,  what 
stood  for  so  much  capital ;  with  more  to  that  effect. 
To  comfort  me  after  the  discipline,  I  found  enclosed 
the  copy  of  '  Luton '  beautifully  written  out  by 
your  Father,  and  so  exquisitely  done  as  if  in  copper 


254  Edward  Hodges 


plate,  with  some  cordial  words,  the  offset  to  the 
paternal  remonstrances  in  the  epistle.  To  say  that 
my  astute  friend  seized  on  it  with  avidity,  chuckling 
over  his  success,  is  but  to  add  the  inevitable  conclu- 
sion to  the  story  of  the  way  in  which  he  played  upon 
my  inexperience.  But  we  both  enjoyed  the  har- 
monies, as  if  nothing  adverse  had  been  encountered 
in  the  manner  of  their  acquisition. 

"I  came  to  Trinity  Church  in  the  year  1855. 
Among  the  clergy  was  the  Rev.  J.  F.  Young,  then 
a  Junior  Assistant  Minister,  and  now  Bishop  of 
Florida,  who,  not  content  with  thoroughly  appreci- 
ating your  Father's  powers  and  greatly  admiring 
his  art,  was  ready  to  unite  with  me  in  an  attempt 
to  induce  him  to  publish  some  of  those  compositions 
which  were  chief  favorites  among  our  people.  One 
difficulty  in  the  way  was  this,  that  Dr.  Hodges  in- 
sisted on  using  the  old  Tenor  and  Alto  clefs,  and 
would  not  demean  his  work  by  printing  it  in  the 
ordinary  manner.  Nothing  would  induce  him  to 
recede  from  his  position,  so  we  swallowed  the  clefs, 
and  got  several  of  his  services  into  print.  The  first 
thus  published,  a.  d.  1859,  "^^^^  the  *  Communion 
Service  in  F  '  which  has  a  preface  that  tells  the  story 
in  his  own  words,  as  follows  : 

'* '  This  Service  was  written  in  the  year  1843.  ^^ 
has  been  for  some  time  in  ordinary  use  at  Trinity 


Reminiscences  by  Dr.  Morgan  Dix     255 


Church  New  York,  and  is  now  published  at  the 
particular  request  of  two  of  the  clergymen  con- 
nected with  that  Parish,  the  Rev.  Morgan  Dix, 
M.A.,  and  the  Rev.  J.  F.  Young,  M.A, 

'* '  Such  a  request,  backed  as  it  was  by  the  vol- 
untary undertaking  of  those  gentlemen  to  purchase 
a  considerable  number  of  copies,  could  not  well  be 
refused  ;  so  the  score  was  taken  from  the  conceal- 
ment in  which  it  had  lain  for  fifteen  years,  and  after 
having  been  fairly  copied  by  my  good  friend  and 
disciple,  Mr.  W.  H.  Walter,  Organist  of  Trinity 
Chapel,  at  a  time  when  severe  illness  compelled  me 
to  cease  from  all  professional  labours,  was  com- 
mitted to  the  printer. 

"  •  Still  sequestered  from  active  duty,  and  uncer- 
tain whether  my  recovery  will  ever  be  such  as  to 
qualify  me  to  resume  it,  it  will  be  a  source  of  high 
and  holy  gratification  to  learn  that  my  humble 
strains  contribute  in  any  degree  to  aid  the  devotions 
of  the  Christian  Church.' 

"  The  '  Evening  Service  in  C,'  composed  in  1824, 
was  published  in  1863,  under  the  supervision  of 
Dr.  Walter;  and  the  wonderfully  beautiful  Anthem, 
written  for  the  Consecration  of  Trinity  Chapel  in 
1855,  must  have  appeared  some  years  later.  I  think 
that  those  three  works  are  enough,  by  themselves, 
to  establish  the  position  of  your  Father,  as  that  of 


256  Edward  Hodges 


one  of  the  ablest,  purest,  and  most  delightful  of  our 
Church  composers,  and  to  set  him  on  high  among 
the  masters  of  the  Anglican  School. 

''  Mention  ought  also  to  be  made  of  his  skill  and 
success  as  a  writer  of  English  prose.  His  style 
was  finished,  and  his  acquaintance  with  the  re- 
sources of  our  native  tongue  sufficient  to  make  his 
compositions  most  agreeable  and  acceptable  to  per- 
sons of  cultivated  taste.  He  was  especially  clever 
in  humorous  and  good-naturedly  satirical  work, 
treating  his  themes  with  skill  and  showing  a  keen 
relish  of  fun  and  a  refined  wit.  During  the  great 
uproar  and  assault  on  Trinity  Church  in  the  year 
1857,  he  made  a  notable  contribution  to  the  defence 
in  the  shape  of  a  most  effective  and  amusing  pam- 
phlet, entitled,  '  Mrs.  Trin  and  her  Troubles  :  A 
Parable.' 

"  Thus,  dear  Miss  Hodges,  have  I  complied  with 
your  request,  writing  in  too  great  a  hurry  to  revise 
what  I  must  now  send  to  you  just  as  it  is. 

"Your  statement  in  your  letter  of  the  12th 
ulto. — '  do  not  think  that  I  want  a  learned  article 
for  a  paper,'  emboldens  me  to  offer  you,  without 
apology  for  its  crudeness,  the  imperfect  but  sincere 
tribute  to  the  memory  of  one  of  the  most  accom- 
plished musicians  and  most  worthy  and  agreeable 
men  I  have  ever  had  the  good  fortune  to  meet.     I 


Reminiscences  by  Dr.  Morgan  Dix     257 


can  only  say  that  I  wish  I  had  known  him  better. 
There  are  those  who  can  paint  his  picture  with  the 
breadth  and  strength  which  the  subject  demands  ; 
I  am  satisfied  if  you  tell  me  that  I  have  succeeded 
in  contributing  a  few  touches,  before  its  completion 
by  the  proper  hand. 
''  I  remain, 

'*  With  sincere  regard  and  esteem, 
"  Very  faithfully  yours, 

''Morgan  Dix." 

"  Miss  Faustina  H.  Hodges." 
17 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

REMINISCENCES    BY    VARIOUS    FRIENDS. 

From  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  H.  Hopkins. 

"  William  sport.  Pa.,  July  3,  i88s. 

"■  My  dear  Miss  Hodges  : 

"  My  first  personal  acquaintance  with  your  hon- 
ored Father  was  in  the  autumn  or  early  winter  of 
1846.  I  had  heard  him  on  the  Organ  at  St.  John's 
Chapel  as  far  back  as  1840,  for  a  few  months  ;  but 
at  that  time  had  not  ventured  to  speak  to  him. 

"  In  1846  I  had  finished  the  arrangement  of  my 
Father's  Church  Music — covering  a  complete  body 
of  music  for  Chants,  Psalms,  Hymns,  and  some  An- 
thems. This  had  been  a  favorite  work  with  him  for 
more  than  twenty  years,  his  natural  gift  for  music, 
and  especially  for  melody,  being  very  great.  But 
he  had  never  studied  harmony,  and  always  said  he 
would  wait  for  me  to  do  that  part  for  him.  I  had 
accordingly  arranged  the  whole,  filling  up  a  few 
gaps  myself ;  and  then,  when  the  bulky  volumes  of 

258 


Reminiscences  by  Various  Friends     259 


MS.  were  ready  for  the  printer,  taking  them  with 
me  to  New  York  in  search  of  a  pubHsher,  I  thought 
it  only  prudent — though  I  knew  it  was  rather  im- 
pertinent— to  introduce  myself  to  your  Father,  then 
the  acknowledged  head  and  indisputable  chief  of 
Church  Music  in  this  country,  to  ask  his  judgment 
on  the  book  first.  At  his  request  I  left  the  volumes 
with  him  for  a  few  days,  and  on  calling  again,  found 
that  he  was  too  gentle  and  tender-hearted  to  say 
anything  that  would  wound  my  feelings  ;  but  after 
a  great  deal  of  instructive  talk  from  him,  showing 
the  variety,  and  breadth,  and  depth  of  the  true 
Church  style,  I  instinctively  absorbed  th.^  impression 
that  I  should  not  be  likely  to  find  a  publisher  who 
would  take  the  risk  ;  and  also,  that  an  entire  collec- 
tion produced  In  such  a  way  would  not  be  of  so 
much  service  to  the  Church  as  I  had  supposed.  No 
one,  even  of  the  greatest  Masters  of  Church  Music 
had  ever  produced  more  than  a  few  Hymn  Tunes  ; 
and  this  rule  was  not  likely  to  be  reversed  In  the 
case  of  persons  who,  during  their  whole  lives,  had 
been  beyond  the  reach  of  the  best  music  in  any 
school.  But  this  conclusion  was  impressed  so 
gently,  so  indirectly,  so  learnedly,  that  I  admired 
and  loved  him  for  It  ever  after. 

''  When  I  became  a  Candidate  for  Orders  In  the 
Diocese  of  New  York  In  1847  ^  attached  myself  to 


26o  Edward  Hodges 


Trinity  Church,  and  every  Sunday  walked  the  three 
miles  down  town,  getting  lunch  at  some  restaurant 
at  one  o'clock,  and  walking  back  after  Evening  Ser- 
vice. The  greatest  inducement  for  me  to  attend 
there  was  the  music,  and  your  Father's  wonderful 
organ  playing.  Of  the  sermons  I  heard  there  I  do 
not  remember  much.  But  the  music  was  another 
thing  !  The  subdued  and  reverential  tone  of  the 
opening  voluntary,  was  a  fit  preface  for  the  Gen- 
eral Confession  and  the  Lord's  Prayer.  The  *  giv- 
ing out'  of  the  Hymn  Tunes  was  an  exquisite 
treat ; — the  melody  being  played  on  a  rich  and 
peculiar  combination  of  stops  on  the  Swell  Or- 
gan, while  the  accompaniment  was  on  another 
manual.  The  feeling  that  was  thus  embodied  is 
indescribable  in  words.  The  striking  character  of 
the  accompaniment  to  the  voices,  the  interludes 
— especially,  for  instance,  in  Luther's  Judgment 
Hymn  (commonly  so  called) — testified  to  the  re- 
ligious and  real  character  of  the  whole.  His  Church 
playing  was  always  an  act  of  worship.  How  many 
of  those  grand  Hymns  ring  in  my  memory  yet ! 
*  What  are  these  in  bright  array,'  'Rise  crowned 
with  light,'  '  Although  the  vine  its  fruit  deny '  ;  Bris- 
tol, Peace,  Manchester,  St.  Ann's,  the  Old  Hun- 
dredth, and  so  many  others.  I  shall  never  hear 
them    done    in    that    glorious   style    again  !      The 


Reminiscences  by  Various  Friends     261 


Cathedral  Services,  which  were  commonly  given 
for  the  Canticles,  in  both  Morning  and  Evening 
Prayer,  together  with  the  Anthems,  which  came 
more  rarely,  were  of  the  highest  range  in  purity  of 
taste  and  distinctness  of  character.  But  to  me  the 
crown  of  them  all  was  his  own  '  Consecration  Ser- 
vice,' which  was  a  special  joy  whenever  I  could  hear 
it.  The  closing  movement  of  the  '  Te  Deum " 
in  that  Service,  taken  up  again  and  further  ex- 
panded at  the  close  of  the  Benedictus,  is  the  grand- 
est thing  I  know  in  the  whole  circle  of  Cathedral 
Services.  The  great  waves  of  sound  follow  one 
another  like  the  ocean  swells  in  regular  movement 
round  the  curved  shore,  until  they  die  away 
in  the  distance.  They  always  gave  me  a  peculiar 
thrill  of  delight.  And  at  the  close,  after  the 
Benediction,  the  grand  voluntary  was  always  an 
invitation  to  make  me  stop,  until  the  last  note 
was  silent.  I  would  sooner  have  gone  out  in 
the  midst  of  the  sermon  than  of  that  voluntar}^ 
The  religious  grandeur  of  the  style, — the  way 
in  which  by  constant  '  substitution  '  the  fingering 
was  so  managed,  that  the  notes  glided  and  rolled 
and  swelled  Into  one  another  without  mechanical 
breaks,  giving  the  organ  a  voice  as  if  It  were  a 
conscious  living  creature  and  not  a  piece  of  mech- 
anism— this  was  the  peculiar  charm  of  /iis  playing, 


262  Edward  Hodges 


which  I  have  never  heard  in  like  measure  from  any 
other. 

"  During  all  the  period  of  your  Father's  subse- 
quent sojourn  in  New  York,  our  friendship  con- 
tinued unbroken,  unabated,  and  unshaded  by  the 
slightest  cloud.  He  was  the  life  and  soul  of  our 
'  Church  Choral  Society,'  which,  under  his  patient 
and  thorough  training,  got  up  the  first  full  Choral 
Service  ever  sung  in  this  country.  And  when  did 
he  ever  refuse  or  fail  to  instruct  or  help  those  who 
came  to  him  for  information  or  guidance  in  his 
noble  Art  ? 

"  In  the  course  of  those  years,  in  walking  up  town 
to  my  lodgings,  I  generally  took  my  way  through 
Hudson  Street.  And  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
or  a  little  later,  passing  his  modest  house  below 
Canal  Street,  I  would  enter  for  a  chat  with  him. 
With  unvarying  regularity,  at  that  time,  I  would 
find  him  at  the  centre  table  in  his  parlor  with  his 
big  Diary  before  him  (it  was  about  the  size  of  a 
merchant's  ledger)  writing  up  the  entries  for  the 
day. 

"  The  inkstand  out  of  which  he  wrote  was  a 
quaint  and  grotesque  piece  of  drollery  which  seemed 
to  give  him  special  pleasure.  When  the  big  book 
was  closed,  some  English  ale,  with  '  crackers  '  ^  and 

^  Biscuit. 


Reminiscences  by  Various  Friends     263 


cheese  were  brought  in,  and  an  hour — sometimes 
two  hours  or  more — passed  away  in  the  most  de- 
lightful manner. 

"  One  thing  remarkable  about  Dr.  Hodges  was 
his  thorough  theological  appreciation  of  the  true 
meaning  of  the  words  and  phrases  which  he  set  to 
music.  He  was  a  well-read  theologian  outside  of 
his  own  professional  range,  and  his  communica- 
tions in  the  Church  papers  often  showed  that  he 
was  more  than  a  match  for  some  of  the  clergy ! 
Still  water  runs  deep  !  One  who  saw  only  the 
placid,  gentle,  equable  tenor  of  his  daily  life  and 
conversation,  would  not  dream  that  he  was  capa- 
ble of  the  deepest  feeling,  the  most  intense  suffer- 
ing, the  most  enduring  affection,  the  most  corroding 
remembrances.  Yet  all  this  was  so,  though  no 
word  of  it  escaped  so  as  to  be  observed  by  or- 
dinary acquaintances. 

"  The  deep  undertone  of  mtense  reality  pervaded 
his  whole  being,  and  alas  !  in  some  respects,  the 
shades  grew  only  deeper  and  darker  towards  the 
latter  part  of  his  abode  among  us.  But  /  saw  only 
the  sunshine  ;  and  that  sweet  sunshine  has  left  the 
memory  of  its  brightness  undimmed  In  the  heart  of 
*'Yr.  ob.  servant  in  the  Church, 

"J.  H.  Hopkins. 

"  Miss  Faustina  H.  Hodges." 


264  Edward  Hodges 


From  the  Very  Rev.  Dean  Hoffman. 

"  General  Theological  Seminary, 

^^  New  York,  January  ^,  1^95' 

"  My  dear  Miss  Hodges  : 

"  My  earliest  recollection  of  your  Father  dates 
back  to  the  time  when  he  first  came  to  this  coun- 
try, and,  through  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wainwright's  influ- 
ence, was  appointed  organist  of  St.  John's  Chapel, 
where  I  was  then  attending  church.  Up  to  that 
date  Anglican  Church  music  was  almost  unknown 
on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  The  singing  of  the 
psalms  in  metre  and  one  of  the  small  collection  of 
hymns  printed  with  the  Prayer  Book  was,  as  a 
rule,  the  only  musical  part  of  the  Church  service. 
His  handling  of  the  organ  with  such  singular 
power,  and  his  devotional  rendering  of  the  canticles 
and  occasional  anthems  attracted  large  numbers 
to  the  Chapel,  and  its  influence  immediately  began 
to  be  felt  in  other  churches,  lifting  the  musical 
portion  of  the  services  to  a  higher  and  more  sacred 
plane. 

"  When  Trinity  Church  was  rebuilt,  at  a  later 
day,  he  was  naturally  promoted  to  it.  This  gave 
him  a  wider  field  and  greater  influence.  The 
organ  there,  which  was  built  under  his  immediate 
supervision,  was  at  that  time  the  largest  and  best 


>     J 


'  »,i»  >jj'  J    J  1 


o       ■>    ■>    15    a 


<  1      « 


115 


'  ^    )      3    J,  J 

»        ,      '      '       ITT 


p 

z 

<: 


«s4 


M 

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t      € 

f      t 


'    C     fc     b  (.   ' 


Reminiscences  by  Various  Friends     265 


in  this  country.  Under  his  manipulation  it  seemed 
to  speak,  and  to  give  a  deeper  and  fuller  meaning 
to  the  sacred  words.  I  have  heard  members  of 
that  congregation  say  that  the  words  of  the  hymns 
or  of  the  anthem,  with  his  musical  interpretation  of 
them,  left  often  a  deeper  impression  on  their  minds 
than  the  most  eloquent  sermon.  His  voluntaries  at 
the  close  of  the  service,  improvisations  of  his  own, 
were  so  popular  that  it  was  not  unusual  for  a  large 
portion  of  the  congregation  to  remain  in  their  pews 
until  he  had  finished.  Though  I  have  heard  not  a 
few  of  the  noted  organists  of  England,  I  have  never 
heard  one  who  surpassed  him  in  devotional  render- 
ing of  the  organ  accompaniments.  Under  his  hand 
the  organ  seemed  to  adapt  Itself  to  the  various 
expressions  of  penitence  or  praise  in  the  psalms  or 
anthems. 

*'  It  was  my  privilege,  as  you  know,  to  commit 
his  remains,  '  earth  to  earth,'  In  the  quiet  church- 
yard of  Stanton  Drew,  and  I  esteem  It  a  duty  to 
express  my  obligation  to  one  to  whom.  In  common 
with  so  many  others,  I  owe  my  intelligent  apprecia- 
tion of  true  Church  music. 

''  Very  sincerely  yours, 

**  E.  A.   Hoffman. 

"  Miss  Faustina  Hasse  Hodges." 


266  Edward  Hodges 


From  the  Rev.  J.  H.  H.  De  Mllle. 

"  The  writer  looks  back  to  the  days  of  his  ac- 
quaintance with  Dr.  Hodges  and  remembers  a 
genial,  elderly  man,  dignified  but  full  of  humour, 
always  seeming  to  carry  with  him  the  impression 
that  his  high  art  was  a  gift  received  from  Heaven, 
and  therefore  to  be  consecrated  to  the  Glory  of  God. 

"  To  his  work  he  not  only  brought  a  cultivated 
mind  and  true  musical  taste,  but  deep  religious 
feeling  ;  and  it  is  not  therefore  surprising  that  his 
compositions  are  pervaded  by  a  highly  devotional 
spirit.  His  playing  of  the  organ  was  remarkable 
for  the  same  devotional  spirit.  The  writer  has 
again  and  again  seen  him  as  he  presided  at  the 
Organ  of  Trinity  Church,  endeavouring  to  develop 
musical  thoughts  suggested  by  the  sermons  to  which 
he  gave  thoughtful  and  critical  attention.  On  one 
occasion  the  sermon  was  particularly  impressive ; 
and  as  the  sun,  nearing  the  west,  threw  a  rich  light 
through  the  stained  glass  window  of  old  Trinity,  he 
wove  the  thoughts  of  the  sermon  and  the  rich  scene 
into  his  concluding  voluntary,  basing  it  on  the 
theme  of  Tallis's  Evening  Hymn. 

**  Though  twenty  years  have  passed  since  then, 
the  strains  of  that  music  still  linger  in  our  memory. 

''J.  H.  H.  DeMille." 


Reminiscences  by  Various  Friends     267 


Sir  Frederick  Gore  Ouseley,  Bart,  wrote  me  that 
he  had  hurried  to  Bristol  purposely  to  see  my 
Father  and  to  hear  him  at  his  organ  with  the 
magnificent  swell ;  and  was  much  disappointed  to 
find  that  Dr.  Hodges  had  just  left  for  New  York. 

In  another  letter  to  the  writer  dated  October  18, 
1887,  Sir  Frederick  says, 

"  I  possess  a  complete  set  of  the  old  Musical 
Qum^terly  Review,  and  know  well  your  Father's 
Essays  and  Letters  therein.  They  were  in  ad- 
vance of  their  period,  and  display  much  clever  in- 
sight into  matters  of  which  contemporary  musicians 
were  mostly  in  utter  ignorance. 

"■  I  wish  I  had  had  the  good  fortune  of  knowing 
him  personally." 

An  article  in  the  Bristol  Mirror,  1867,  speak- 
ing of  his  residence  in  New  York  after  his  sojourn 
there  was  over,  says  : 

"And  in  that  far  Western  land  he  was  honoured 
and  respected  as  the  good  old  English  Doctor. 

"  He  never  lost  his  nationality  :  but  having 
finished  his  work,  he  returned  under  his  own  fiae  to 
the  land  he  loved  with  the  passionate  loyalty  of  an 
Englishman. 

"  Homeward  bound  at  last  !  Many  now  in 
Clifton  remember  him,  as  he  was  drawn  about  in 
his  Bath-chair,  for  illness  and  over  brain  work  had 


268 


Edward  Hodges 


prostrated  his  powers.  They  will  remember  his 
genial  and  benevolent  countenance,  illuminated 
as  it  always  was  with  his  bright  intelligence  and 
sparkling  humour.  He  was  truly  a  Christian 
Philosopher  ;  and  one  who  gazed  upon  his  thought- 
ful face  with  the  marks, — light  ones  in  truth — 
of  seventy  years  upon  it,  would  carry  away  the 
impression  of  one  who  had  done  his  work  well ; 
who  had  borne  his  share  of  life's  sorrows  bravely  ; 
who  had  consecrated  his  talents  to  a  noble  use, 
and  had  come  to  the  end  of  his  journey  with  the 
light  of  a  brighter  world  shining  on  his  pathway." 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

IN   MEMORIAM.      TESTIMONY  TO  HIS  WORTH  FROM  VARI- 
OUS  JOURNALS. 

From  the  Church  Journal,  New  York. 

''  Dr.  Edward  Hodges,  whose  death  was  announced 
in  a  recent  issue,  will  long  be  remembered  in  this  country, 
not  only  as  a  most  accomplished  musician,  but  as  one  to 
whom  we  are  indebted  for  the  best  school  of  our  Church 
music.  Born  and  brought  up  in  Bristol,  England,  the 
Cathedral  of  which  has  long  been  noted  for  its  choral 
services,  and  deeply  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  the  old 
masters,  he  came  to  this  country  at  a  period  when  good 
ecclesiastical  music  was  but  little  known  in  our  churches. 
His  position  as  organist  of  old  Trinity,  afforded  him  an  ex- 
cellent opportunity  for  the  exercise  of  his  unusual  ability, 
and  his  influence  was  soon  felt  throughout  the  Church. 
Strangers  visiting  the  city  would  often  make  it  a  point  to 
remain  over  Sunday  that  they  might  hear  the  Doctor  play. 
And  who  that  once  heard  him  can  ever  forget  the  power 
which  he  possessed  at  the  organ  ?  The  listener  felt  at 
once  that  he  was  in  the  presence  of  a  master  of  that 
noblest  instrument,  and  a  master  who  realized  that  its 
office  in  the  sanctuary  was  for  God's  praise  and  not  for 
man's   display.     The    simple   voluntary   with    which    he 

269 


2/0  Edward   Hodges 


would  introduce  the  service,  was  always  a  fitting  prelude 
to  prayer,  hushing  worldly  thoughts,  lifting  the  soul  from 
earth,  and  giving  it  the  foretaste  of  celestial  melody. 
And  as  the  service  proceeded  and  the  organ  gave  out  its 
utmost  grandeur  in  response  to  his  masterly  touch,  now 
uttering  a  plea  for  mercy,  now  subdued  as  by  the  very 
presence  of  The  Eternal,  and  now  rolling  out  the 
majesty  of  praise,  there  was  something  which  made  the 
worshipper  forget  the  instrument  and  the  place,  and  lifted 
him,  as  it  were,  to  the  harmonies  of  the  Temple  which  is 
above.  No  music  was  common  in  his  hands.  The  organ, 
with  its  delicate  mechanism,  rich  combinations  and  won- 
derful resources,  was  all  at  his  command.  It  seemed  to 
breathe  his  inmost  spirit.  A  plain  psalm  tune  would  with 
him  often  roll  out  like  a  grand  Chorale,  and  when  the 
service  was  closed,  how  often  have  we  heard  him  take  a 
simple  subject,  perhaps  suggested  by  some  thought  in  the 
sermon,  and  after  a  solemn  introduction,  give  it  out  and 
make  upon  it  a  most  wonderful  improvisation  of  a  Fugue. 

''  But  above  all  rose  his  beautiful  Christian  character. 
He  lived  as  though  he  realized  that  he  was  ever  in  God's 
presence.  God's  word  was  his  daily  study ;  the  life  that 
was  in  Jesus  his  constant  pattern.  How  promptly  he 
would  hush  a  word  of  complaint  against  anyone ;  how 
gently  and  delicately  he  dealt  with  his  choir;  how  largely 
he  gave  of  his  limited  means  to  every  charity ;  how  care- 
fully he  would  follow  all  the  responses  in  the  service  ;  how 
regularly  he  knelt  at  the  Altar-rail  in  the  days  of  his 
power  amongst  us,  after  having  lifted  our  souls  above 
these  scenes  by  his  glorious  rendering  of  his  own  setting 
of  the  *  Ter  Sanctus,'  is  well  known  to  all  that  had  the 
privilege  of  his  friendship,  or  perhaps  the  even  greater 
privilege  of  hearing  him  constantly  at  the  organ. 

"  When  compelled  by  illness  to  relinquish  his  post  at 
Trinity,  he  returned  to  his  native  city  to  spend  the  bal- 


In  Memoriam  271 


ance  of  his  days,  and  there  most  peaceful  and  beautiful 
was  his  decline.  It  was  like  the  evening  glow  of  a  bright, 
well  spent  day.  Undisturbed  by  a  single  murmur,  as  one 
power  after  another  gave  way,  with  Christian  resignation 
he  fell  asleep  in  perfect  peace. 

*'  By  his  ow^n  directions,  his  remains  were  laid  beside 
those  of  his  ancestors  in  the  quiet  Churchyard  of  Stanton 
Drew :  and  nothing  could  have  been  more  touchingly 
beautiful  than  the  funeral  service  in  that  little  antiquated 
village  Sanctuary,  which  stands  near  the  great  stones  of 
an  old  Druidical  Circle  or  Temple.  There  was  no  organ 
heard  ;  but  selections  of  his  own  compositions,  consisting 
of  his  solemn  chant  in  C  sharp  minor,  (written  many  years 
previously  for  that  occasion,)  and  his  own  funeral  verse 
*  I  heard  a  Voice,'  were  perfectly  rendered  by  members 
of  the  Cathedral  Choir,  surpliced,  as  is  their  custom. 

''And  as  the  strains  of  the  Anthem,  a  composition  of 
exquisite  pathos,  rose  around  the  grave  immediately  after 
the  committal,  it  seemed  like  the  voice  of  the  departed 
coming  forth  from  the  tomb  to  comfort  the  mourners. 
The  service  was  closed  with  Bach's  beautitul  Chorale,  '  O 
sacred  Head  now  wounded,'  and  as  the  muffled  bells  gave 
forth  their  solemn  peal,  the  friends  left  the  spot  more 
deeply  impressed  than  ever  with  the  great  truth, 

"  '  Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord.'  " 

Dr.  Alfred  Day,  whose  eloquent  and  feeling  ac- 
count of  the  funeral  at  Stanton  Drew  we  have 
already  seen,  gave  at  the  same  time  a  description  of 
my  Father's  personality  and  characteristics,  which 
seems  to  make  us  almost  acquainted  with  him  ;  and 
which  is  valuable  as  the  last  we  can  receive  from 
the  hand  of  any  who  knew  and  loved  him  in  Bristol. 
I  shall  quote  from  it  so  as  to  avoid  repetition. 


2  72  Edward  Hodores 


i5 


From  the  Bristol  Times  and  Mirror y  Sept.,  1867. 
"The  Late  Dr.  Edward  Hodges. 

*'  This  Eminent  Composer  and  Musician  died  at  Clifton 
on  Sunday  morning  last.  Dr.  Hodges  was  well  known  as  a 
public  character  in  this  his  native  city,  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury ago  ;  and  was  admired  for  his  conversational  powers, 
his  varied  acquirements,  and  more  particularly  for  his 
profound  knowledge  of  the  theory  and  practice  of  Music. 
Though  destined  by  his  father  for  business,  he  had  no 
sooner  attained  to  freedom  of  action,  than  his  peculiar 
bent  and  genius  developed  itself  in  the  direction  in  which 
he  was  afterwards  famous. 

*'  Fertile  in  mechanical  expedients,  he  applied  himself 
with  great  zeal  and  energy  to  the  study  of  the  construc- 
tion of  the  organ,  with  marked  success  ;  and  before  many 
years  had  become  the  chief  authority  on  that  instrument 
in  Bristol,  being  consulted  on  every  occasion  where  an 
organ  was  to  be  repaired  or  built.  He  was  equally  dis- 
tinguished as  a  skillful  performer  on  this  his  favourite 
instrument,  and  was  also  a  devoted  student  of  the  works 
of  Handel,  Bach,  Haydn,  and  Mozart,  and  our  old  Church 
writers. 

"  Having  entered  himself  at  Cambridge,  during  the 
Professorate  of  Dr.  Clark-Whitfeld,  he  obtained  the  de- 
gree of  Mus.  Doc.  at  a  time  when  this  distinction  was 
rare,  after  an  Exercise  which  was  pronounced  to  be  of 
unusual  merit.  He  afterwards  enjoyed  the  intimacy  of 
many  celebrated  musical  writers,  and  among  others  of  the 
late  Samuel  Wesley,  who  has  left  it  on  record  that  Dr. 
Hodges  was  one  of  the  first,  if  not  the  first,  of  English 
organists.  Possibly,  personal  friendship  and  a  sense  of 
personal  obligation  may  have  had  a  share  in  dictating  so 
comprehensive  a  statement,  but  there  is  no  doubt  what- 
ever that  the  Doctor's  powers  as  an  extemporary  Fugue 


:>  > 


'      ■>  1    ■•      •>     •>  ■> 


1      ■>'■>•,      . 

>      1    -"i    1 


■»■>!■)      ■>   T 
■)■>-»■»        1 


■>     5   ■>   ■>    ■> 


n 


'  I'll, 


1  ■>  1    ■)    1 


UNIVERSITY    CHURCH,    CAMBRIDGE. 


€  f  € 


(  <    C   (   c 

«■    r       «■ 

If         f 


r  r 


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t      € 
t        f 


c  f  < 


In  Memoriam  273 


player,  and  his  command  and  knowledge  of  the  resources 
of  his  instrument  were  of  a  remarkable  kind.  No  man 
ever  better  understood  how  to  adapt  himself  readily  to 
the  frame  of  feeling  in  which  a  congregation  of  worship- 
ping people  might  happen  to  be,  or  to  the  exigencies  of 
metre,  or  the  requirements  imposed  by  the  tone  and  sen- 
timent of  the  words  to  be  sung  at  particular  times  and 
seasons.  The  writer  has  known  him  during  service  com- 
pose original  chants  or  tunes  to  meet  some  unlooked-for 
emergency  ;  and  on  one  occasion  of  a  public  nature,  when 
suddenly  deserted  by  his  choir,  improvise  a  voluntary 
which  bridged  over  the  gap  caused  thereby,  without  the 
congregation  becoming  aware  of  what  had  taken  place. 
During  the  period  of  his  presidency  at  the  organ  of 
St.  James  (which  was  for  many  years  the  best  in  Bris- 
tol, and  re-constructed  with  his  specification  and  over- 
sight) he  composed  several  services,  some  of  which  have 
obtained  a  permanent  place  in  Cathedral  Choirs  ;  and 
many  printed  collections  of  tunes  and  chants  contain 
well-known  specimens  of  his  writing  or  adaptation. 

'*  For  many  years  Dr.  Hodges  contributed  papers  to 
various  journals  on  Mechanical  Science.  Among  others 
of  his  suggestions  were  the  damming  of  the  Avon  at  Sea 
Mills,  and  a  scheme  for  floating  the  Great  Britain  when 
on  shore  in  Dundrum  Bay.  He  had  also  constructed  and 
described  a  model  of  a  feathering  steam  paddle-wheel, 
identical  in  principal  with  that  afterwards  patented  as 
'  Morgan's  Paddle-wheel.'  Many  improvements  in  the 
mode  of  constructing  the  Swell  box  and  Pedal  board  of 
the  organ,  and  other  mechanical  appliances  have  been 
adopted  from  him. 

"  Later  in  life  Dr.  Hodges  was  induced  to  settle  in  New 
York,  U.  S.,  where  his  eminent  abilities  were  soon  appre- 
ciated, and  where  he  may  be  said  to  have  created  a  taste 
for   Church    music.     Under  his  direction  a  magnificent 

z8 


2  74  Edward  Hodges 


organ  was  constructed  for  the  noble  Trinity  Church  in 
that  city,  the  musical  services  of  which  he  continued  to 
conduct  for  many  years  with  great  reputation.  We  ex- 
tract the  following  notice  of  the  proposed  publication  of 
the  Te  Demn  composed  by  him  on  the  occasion  of  the 
consecration  of  that  Church  from  a  New  York  paper  : 

**  *  Hodges  in  E. — We  are  glad  to  announce  what  we 
have  desired  for  years,  and  that  is  that  the  chef  d'ceuvre 
of  Dr.  Hodges,  written  for  the  consecration  service  of 
Trinity  Church  in  1846  and  annually  used  thereafter  on 
Ascension  Day  as  long  as  its  author  was  able  to  preside 
at  the  organ,  is  about  to  be  published.  It  consists  of  an 
opening  sentence,  the  Te  Deimi  and  Bene dictiis.  All  these 
will  be  given,  not  only  for  the  voices,  but  with  separate 
obligato  organ  part,  just  as  it  used  to  be  played  by  Dr. 
Hodges  himself.  And  who  that  has  ever  heard,  can  ever 
forget  the  chaste  yet  sublime  richness  of  the  drapery, 
which,  in  that  admirable  service,  clothes  the  body  of  vocal 
harmony  as  with  the  ornament  of  royal  robes  ?  That 
service,  in  our  opinion,  stands  at  the  head  of  all  Cathedral 
services,  as  combining  a  full  and  overpowering  poetic 
colouring  and  sentiment,  without  in  any  respect  depart- 
ing from  the  sobriety  and  dignity  of  a  pure  ecclesiastical 
style ;  and  of  all  that  Dr.  Hodges  has  done  for  the  noble 
cause  of  Church  music  among  us,  that  will  live  the  longest 
and  be  the  most  dearly  cherished ;  especially  the  magnifi- 
cent close  of  the  Te  Deum  and  the  Bejiedictus,  in  which 
one  seems  to  hear  the  rolling  of  the  musical  waves  upon 
the  everlasting  shore.' 

**  This  service  has  since  been  published  with  an  admira- 
ble likeness  of  the  author  attached.  Dr.  Hodges  was  the 
first  cousin  of  the  eminent  sculptor,  Edward  Hodges 
Baily,  so  lately  removed  by  death,  and  both  cherished  a 
high  and  mutual  esteem  for  each  other.  Bristol  may  well 
be  proud  of  a  family  which  has  evinced  remarkable  talent 


In  Memoriam  275 


in  many  of  its  members,  and  has  been  equally  distin- 
guished for  its  high  moral  tone.  The  upper  portion  of 
Dr.  Hodges'  head  and  eyes  reminded  one  strongly  of 
Mendelssohn.  His  wit  and  pleasantry  and  social  qualities 
were  of  a  high  order,  and  in  the  old  time  of  Corporation 
dinners,  he  regularly  found  his  place  at  the  civic  feasts, 
though  himself  the  most  abstemious  of  eaters.  Being  of 
a  delicate  constitution  and  very  susceptible  nervous  organi- 
zation, his  health  was  always  precarious,  and  this  will 
account  for  his  almost  premature  decay  at  an  age  when 
many  continue  vigorous,  though  he  had  reached  the 
allotted  term  of  human  life.  During  his  residence  in 
New  York  he  married  the  sister  of  Dr.  N.  F.  Moore, 
formerlv  President  and  Greek  Professor  of  Columbia 
College,  himself  a  considerable  traveller  and  author,  and 
a  most  cultivated  man.  After  her  death,  he  returned  to 
take  up  his  residence  permanently  at  Clifton,  but  was  no 
longer  able  to  indulge  his  favourite  studies  from  increasing 
infirmity,  or  rather  mere  bodily  weakness. 

"  His  last  moments  were  soothed  by  the  unremitting 
attentions  of  his  daughter,  who  tended  him  with  the  most 
affectionate  assiduity.  We  have  had  occasion  lately  to 
notice  favourably  several  of  her  musical  productions,  and 
are  assured  that  they  display  considerable  talent,  both  in 
the  art  of  composition  and  in  respect  of  melody,  by  those 
more  competent  to  judge  than  we  are.  Dr.  Hodges*  fail- 
ing strength  since  his  return  to  England  has  prevented  his 
being  as  well  known  to  contemporaries  as  he  was  twenty- 
five  years  ago  to  his  fellow-citizens  of  that  date.  His 
decay  was  gradual  and  peaceful,  though  at  the  last  some- 
what sudden.  He  was  a  devout  and  consistent  Church- 
man, zealous  for  the  extension  of  Church  Music,  and 
worked  with  one  all-absorbing  aim  in  his  vocation.  He 
could  scarcely  be  regarded  as  one  who  followed  music  as 
a  profession,  certainly  not  if  the  idea  of  pecuniar}^  gain  is 


276  Edward  Hodges 


involved  in  the  distinction.  He  rather  regarded  his  art  as 
something  to  be  dedicated  to  the  service  of  the  Sanctuary, 
and  himself  not  as  the  organist  of  this  or  that  parish,  but 
as  a  liturgical  minister  of  the  Church  universal  on  earth. 
To  render  more  expressively,  devoutly,  and  grandly  its 
daily  service  of  prayer  and  thanksgiving  he  would  have 
made  any  personal  sacrifice  consistent  with  Christian  duty. 
The  few  surviving  friends  of  his  early  life  will  always 
cherish  his  memory  with  profound  regard,  and  the  an- 
nouncement of  his  decease  will  be  received  with  deep 
regret  by  a  host  of  admirers  on  the  other  side  of  the  At- 
lantic, who  will  associate  his  name  and  that  of  Church 
Music  indissolubly.  Already  the  MS.  tunes  and  portions 
of  services  left  by  Dr.  Hodges  in  the  Choir  books  of 
Trinity,  have  found  their  way  into  print,  and  many  of 
these  will  be  spread  far  and  wide  in  the  future  progress 
of  Church  extension  in  America.  At  home  the  use 
of  Mercer^  and  Hymns  Ancient  and  Modern^  with  the 
crowd  of  rival  productions  that  find  favour  in  different 
congregations,  stands  in  the  way  of  any  wide  adoption  of 
a  foreign  selection,  but  we  should  be  glad  to  see  an  entire 
selection  of  all  that  Dr.  Hodges  has  written  thoughtfully 
and  earnestly  in  the  day  of  his  power,  for  he  has  left  be- 
hind him  a  valuable  legacy  in  the  shape  of  occasional 
Anthems,  Morning  and  Evening  Services,  and  indited 
Compositions,  which  might  be  brought  together,  and 
would  vindicate  his  reputation  as  a  composer,  which  is 
less  known  than  it  deserves  to  be  out  of  the  circle  of 
his  admiring  personal  friends." 

I  make  rather  amusing  extracts  from  an  article  in 
the  New  York  Keynote,  signed  G.  F.  D.,  a  writer 
to  me  unknown. 

"  Many  New  Yorkers  of  musical  proclivities  who  are 
now  fairly  advanced  in  middle  age,  remember  Dr.  Edward 


In  Memoriam  277 


Hodges,  who  was  for  many  years  organist  of  Trinity 
Church  in  this  city. 

'*  The  Doctor  was  an  oddity  in  many  ways.  One  of  the 
greatest  Contrapuntists  of  his  day,  he  was  yet  very  fond 
of  taking  simple  melodies  and  passing  them  through  the 
alembic  of  his  own  musical  fire,  bringing  them  out  so  that 
there  was  a  remote  sensation  of  having  heard  what  you 
listened  to  somewhere,  but  the  original  theme  was  so 
artistically  treated  that  one  was  at  a  loss  to  recognize  it, 
and  it  gave  the  general  effect  of  a  musical  dream,  with  a 
suggestion  of  solid  harmony  to  strengthen  it.  One  of 
these  curious  playthings  of  his  brain  is  in  the  tune 
'  Habakkuk  '  which  on  close  scrutiny,  will  be  seen  to  be 
an  old  French  air,  which  Dr.  Hodges  adapted  to  the 
words,  '  Although  the  vine  its  fruit  deny.'  But  the  Doctor 
treated  this  old  convivial  song  with  all  his  contrapuntal 
skill,  preserving  its  melody,  passing  it  through  no  less 
than  four  distinct  modulations,  and  still  without  making 
it  difificult  to  sing. 

"  The  younger  organists — those  of  our  day — who  know 
of  Dr.  Hodges  only  by  hearsay,  and  think  that  while  he 
wrote  some  excellent  Church  music,  he  belonged  to  an 
antiquated  school  which  had  no  '  Execution,*  know  very 
little  about  it.  Many  a  young  student  who  scuffles  about 
among  the  pedals,  stumbling  around  like  a  blind  horse  in 
a  grave-yard,  should  have  heard  the  Doctor's  pedal-play- 
ing. There  was  no  obscurity  about  it.  Every  note  was 
well  defined,  heel  and  toe  working  in  good  partnership. 
There  was  no  confusion,  no  bungling,  no  uncomfortable 
correction  of  false  notes.  The  Doctor,  too,  was  great  in 
musical  feats  of  transposition.  He  would  play  a  Fugue, 
the  greater  Bach  in  G.  minor,  or  the  '  Giant  Fugue,'  or 
any  others  of  the  old  Master,  one,  two  or  three  tones  or 
semitones  higher,  and  never  swerve,  or  miss  a  note  in 
manual  or  pedal. 

"  But,  brought  up  in  the  old   English  school,  of  which 


278  Edward   Hodges 


Arne,  Blow,  Purcell,  Boyce,  Walminsley  and  Gibbons 
are  exponents,  Dr.  Hodges  did  not  like  Mendelssohn. 
The  *  Elijah '  with  its  instrumental  richness  and  wonder- 
ful dramatic  power,  did  not  accord  with  his  musical  taste. 
He  relented  somewhat  toward  the  Overture  to  St.  Paul, 
because  of  its  dignified  treatment  of  a  simple  theme,  and 
fancied  the  earlier  part  of  the  following  Fugue  ;  but  had 
no  sympathy  with  the  rush  and  orchestral  hurry  which 
bring  it  to  a  close.  He  would  rather  play  '  We  worship 
God  and  God  alone  '  from  '  Judas  Maccabaeus  '  with  its 
wonderfully-treated  double  subjects,  than  trifle  with  the 
*  Lobgesang.'  The  Doctor's  methods  and  tastes  do  not 
prevail  at  present  at  Trinity,  where,  while  honour  is  done 
to  Handel,  Mendelssohn  and  his  compeers  find  happy 
representation. 

"  Inclined  to  harmony  more  than  melody,  his  interpreta- 
tion of  the  Church  Service  was  admirable.  '  His  pupil, 
the  late  Dr.  John  Wilcox,  used  to  say,  that  it  was  a  good 
musical  education  just  to  hear  Dr.  Hodges  *  give  out  '  a 
hymn  on  the  organ ;  while  his  accompaniment  to  the 
voice  was  singularly  excellent.  To  give  an  idea  of  one  of 
his  '  odd  ways  '  of  which  we  have  spoken,  we  may  say 
that  one  day,  a  lady  coming  out  of  Church  said,  '  They 
sang  that  beautiful  old  tune  "Dundee,"  and  the  organ 
was  fine ;  but  I  heard  all  underneath  it  a  sort  of  small 
rolling  scale  of  soft  notes,  like  a  gentle  sea.  It  was  away 
down  under  the  bass,  and  seemed  like  waves  breaking 
into  rock  caverns.'  This  was  one  of  his  peculiar  delights. 
He  had  accompanied  the  voices  on  the  manuals,  and, 
with  the  Swell  coupled  to  the  Pedals,  had  produced  the 
underground  murmurs. 

"  Dr.  Hodges  had  some  curious  ideas  of  his  own  about 
the  pedals  of  an  organ. 

"  Nowadays,  they  are  so  constructed  that  unless  an 
organist  is  careless  there  is  little  need  of  striking^  two  notes 


In  Memoriam  279 


at  once.  But  the  Doctor  had  the  pedals  of  all  organs 
over  which  he  had  control  built  in  the  closest  possible  way, 
and  in  addition,  had  a  sort  of  rail,  about  the  size  of  a  lead 
pencil,  running  along  the  top  of  each  pedal,  with  a  de- 
pression in  it,  so  that  he  could  reach  over  and  easily  play 
a  Third  with  the  toe.  Having  charge  over  all  the  Trinity 
Parish  organs  during  his  earlier  connection  with  the  parish 
he  had  them  all  '  fixed  '  the  same  way,  which  was  a  very 
sore  discomfiture  for  the  organists  of  St.  Paul's  and  St. 
John's,  inasmuch  as,  if  they  wanted  to  look  at  the  pedals, 
they  might  as  well  have  looked  at  the  rails  of  a  picket 
fence,  they  were  all  apparently  alike.  He  had  a  peculiar 
love  for  Octave  Couplers,  and  for  dividing  his  mixtures 
into  separate  ranks,  each  controlled  by  its  own  stop. 

"  Of  Dr.  Hodges's  compositions  it  is  unnecessary  to 
speak.  They  are  part  and  parcel  of  our  present  sacred 
musical  literature.  Himself  perfectly  acquainted  with 
the  structure  and  capabilities  of  the  organ,  an  admirable 
executant,  and  thoroughly  imbued  with  the  true  spirit  of 
Church  music,  he  well  knew  what  the  organ  could  do  and 
what  it  could  not  do  ;  how  far  it  could  be  used  as  an  or- 
chestra, and  how  far  it  was  meant  for  Church  use.  Know- 
ing this,  and  writing  in  accordance  with  this  knowledge, 
and  with  the  true  Churchman's  spirit  as  well  as  that  of  the 
true  Musician,  his  works  are  universally  recognized  as 
models.  Whether  in  Hymn-tune,  Chant  or  Full  Service, 
they  are  found  everywhere  in  use,  and  everywhere 
standard. 

''  Dr.  Hodges  was  a  musical  landmark  in  his  day,  the 
recognized  exponent  in  this  city  of  the  highest  school  of 
Sacred  Music,  and  an  authority  among  lesser  lights. 

''  His  memory  is  still  affectionately  cherished  by  many 
New  Yorkers,  and  we  may  only  say  in  concluding  this 
sketch,  that  doubtless  his  own  words,  though  jocularly 
uttered,  were  true.    He  was  talking  with  one  of  his  Chor- 


28o  Edward  Hodges 


isters,  just  after  service,  when  the  latter  in  parting  said  : 
*  Well,  good-bye.  Doctor,  I  '11  meet  you  this  afternoon — 
at  any  rate  in  Heaven.* 

"  '  Very  true,'  said  Dr.  Hodges.  '  The  Psalm  says  "  As 
well  the  singers,  as  the  players  of  Instruments  shall  be 
there."  ' 

^'G.  F.  D." 

I  think  G.  F.  D.  must  be  mistaken  about  "  Hab- 
akkuk."  Whatever  likeness  he  detects,  it  is  not  in 
the  least  probable  that  my  Father  ever  heard  the 
French  "  Convivial  Song." 

Also  concerning  my  Father's  opinion  of  Mendels- 
sohn, it  is  but  partially  given  and  probably  exag- 
gerated. His  words  of  this,  then  new,  composer, 
were  strictly  comparative,  not  condemnatory.  Some 
years  later  he  enjoyed  perusing  Mendelssohns 
Letters  immensely,  and  said  to  me,  "  I  have  a  far 
higher  estimation  of  the  man  "  ;  as  if  he  detected 
in  the  writer  so  early  taken  hence,  the  refined, 
thoughtful,  and  deeply  religious  musician.  I  am 
sure  he  would  have  delighted  In  his  Chorales,  and 
in  his  great  dramatic  power.  Prejudice  and  nar- 
rowness could  not  exist  In  my  Father's  mind, 
though  his  convictions  were  so  strong,  and  his  love 
for  the  two  grand  Masters,  Handel  and  Bach,  par- 
took of  a  passionate  Intensity. 

And  regarding  his  pedal  playing,  my  Father 
would  be  the  last  to  say  he  never  slipped,  but  It  was 


In  Memoriam  281 


such  a  rare  occurrence  that  it  amounted  to  some- 
thing very  remarkable.  In  St.  John's  Chapel  his 
feet  could  be  closely  watched  as  his  seat  was 
elevated  in  the  centre  of  the  galler}^  and  I  re- 
member a  quaint  old  Englishman,  who  officiated 
as  clerk  and  bass  singer,  who  used  to  make  my 
Father  smile  by  saying  softly,  if  there  was  the  least 
indication  of  a  slip,  "  Aliquando  ! "  intimating 
the  Latin  phrase,  "  Aliquando  bonus  dormitat 
Homerus." 

Extract,  from  an  unpublished  paper  on  American 
church  music,  during  the  nineteenth  century. 

*'  Some  forty  years  ago,  when  our  church  choirs  and 
organists  were  groping  about  in  musical  darkness,  and  no 
higher  standard  of  Church  Music  prevailed  than  those 
found  in  the  Tune  Books  of  the  day  ;  when  '  Jackson  in 
F '  was  supposed  to  be  the  on/j'  setting  of  the  Te  Deiiniy 
as  well  as  the  ne plus  ultra  of  pure  Church  Music,  and  the 
mere  playing  It  through  correctly,  a  fair  test  of  an  organ- 
ist's skill ;  when  its  use  was  reserved  for  the  great  festivals 
of  the  Church,  and  the  expected  performance  eagerly 
talked  about  (weeks  in  advance)  by  organists  and  choirs  ; 
when  our  prominent  musicians  were  conscious  of  the  de- 
based condition  of  Church  music,  yet  seemed  powerless 
to  make  it  better ;  there  arrived  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
a  gentleman  bearing  a  distinguished  name, — Edward 
Hodges,  Mus.  Doc.  of  Bristol,  England,  and  holding 
high  rank  among  the  chief  musicians  of  his  own  country. 
For  a  period  of  more  than  twenty  years,  Dr.  Hodges  not 


282  Edward   Hodges 


only  enjoyed  the  full  confidence  and  respect  of  the  musi- 
cal profession,  but  he  also  gained  many  true  friends 
among  the  clergy  and  laity  of  the  Church,  all  of  whom 
appreciated  his  great  talent  and  high  Christian  character. 
During  this  time,  and  amid  many  obstacles,  Dr.  Hodges 
worked  faithfully  and  fearlessly,  seeking  only  the  improve- 
ment and  advancement  of  Church  music,  and  bring- 
ing into  practice  his  own  sound  convictions  in  regard  to 
the  reforms  so  greatly  needed.  For  over  twenty  years 
Dr.  Hodges  had  the  direction  of  the  music  in  Trinity 
Parish,  New  York.  His  first  appointment  was  to  St. 
John's  Chapel,  in  the  year  1839,  where  he  remained  till 
the  completion  of  the  new  Trinity  Church  in  1846,  when 
he  was  elected  its  Organist  and  Choirmaster.  His  famous 
Service  (known  as  *  Hodges  in  E  ' )  was  sung  for  the  first 
time  in  that  Church  at  the  '  Consecration  Service,'  on 
'Ascension  Day,'  May  21,  1846,  and  was  again  performed 
at  the  '  Consecration  '  of  Trinity  Chapel  (the  new  Chapel 
of  ease  to  Trinity  Church)  some  eight  years  later,  when 
Dr.  Hodges  was  appointed  Organist  and  Director  of  the 
Choir.  England  lost  what  New  York  gained,  in  possess- 
ing this  distinguished  musician,  and  there  can  be  no  ques- 
tion that  his  coming  to  America  was  a  most  fortunate 
event  for  our  Church  Music.  He  was  indeed  a  Missionary 
teacher  of  a  purer  Musical  Gospel  than  had  ever  before 
been  preached  to  our  benighted  organists  and  choirs. 
The  good  work  Dr.  Hodges  did,  more  than  forty  years 
ago,  still  lives  and  bears  fruit,  as  many  of  his  old  pupils 
and  disciples  can  testify  ;  and  the  sound  musical  doctrines 
which  he  taught  are  yet  to  bloom  afresh,  when  the  igno- 
rance and  errors  that  now  prevail,  shall  have  passed  away. 
Many  will  recognize  in  this  sketch  an  old  and  valued 
friend.  Others  may  be  told  that  it  refers  to  the  late  Ed- 
ward Hodges,  Mus.  Doc.  of  Sydney,  Sussex  College. 
Cambridge.     He  died  at  Clifton  near  Bristol,  September 


In  Memoriam  283 


I,  1867.  'Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord; 
even  so,  saith  the  Spirit ;  for  they  rest  from  their  labours, 
and  their  works  do  follow  them.'     (Rev.  xiv.,  13.) 

"  S.  P.  T." 

The  Rev.  C.  H.  Davis,  of  Littleton  Drew,  Wilts, 
writes  to  the  Editor  of  the  Bristol  Mii^ror,  about 
1885: 

"■  I  was  Interested  In  your  notice  of  Dr.  Hodges, 
'  A  Bristol  Worthy.'  Some  fifty  years  ago  as  a 
boy  I  was  taken  to  St.  James's  one  Sunday  even- 
ing, and  heard  the  last  Hymn,  and  I  was  shown 
the  stately  Doctor  as  he  came  out,  like  a  D.D.  ! 

''  I  was  told  that  St.  James's  Organ  was  tuned 
then  once  a  week.  The  late  Canon  Havergal  used 
to  be  Curate  at  St.  James's.  In  his  '  Old  Church 
Psalmody '  he  gave  a  C.  M.  tune  adapted  by  Dr. 
Hodges  from  Farrant's  Anthem  '  Lord  for  Thy 
tender  mercies'  sake,'  under  the  name  of  '  Farrant,' 
by  Mercer  miscalled  Gloucester  ;  and  he  spoke 
highly  of  Dr.  Hodges,  to  whom  he  was  Indebted 
for  help  in  his  musical  development. 

*'On  the  death  of  Mr.  Mutlow  in  1832,  Dr. 
Hodges  tried  for  the  organist's  place  In  Glouces- 
ter Cathedral  ;  and  the  late  Rev.  T.  Evans,  Master 
of  the  College  School  and  Precentor,  said  that  he 
never  heard  the  accompaniment  to  the  Solos  so 
well  done  as  by  Dr.  Hodges  ;  that  it  was  so  soft  as 


284  Edward  Hodges 


scarcely  to  be  heard  until  the  last  verse,  when 
he  put  on  the  Swell  before  the  loud  Gloria.  He 
said  that  the  Chapter  wished  to  keep  up  the  old 
connectto7i,  and  so  elected  Mr.  Arnott,  who  had  been 
Mutlow's  pupil. 

**  Yours  truly, 

''C.  H.  D." 

A  musician,  well  known  in  the  Church,  writes  : 

"  In  point  of  majesty  and  volume  of  tone,  the 
large  organ  in  Trinity  Church  has  no  equal  in  this 
country. 

*'  For  a  period  of  more  than  twelve  years  its 
varied  powers  were  developed  by  the  hand  of  a 
Master,  and  its  ample  and  varied  resources  not 
only  displayed  (as  they  have  never  since  been) 
but  brought  under  judicious  control  and  manage- 
ment. Indeed  your  good  Father  controlled  with 
a  Master's  hand  every  possible  effect  to  be  obtained 
from  Trinity  Organ. 

*'  In  the  days  of  Old  Trinity's  musical  prosperity 
(never  to  be  forgotten)  there  was  a  large  and  effi- 
cient choir  who  sang  the  grand  old  Anthems  and 
Services  of  Gibbons,  Boyce,  Purcell,  Croft,  and 
Hodges  ;  and  for  the  first  time  in  America  we 
heard  the  music  which  has  been  listened  to  with 
wonder  and  delight   in   the  daily   Cathedral    Ser- 


In  Memoriam 


285 


vices  of  the  Church  of  England.  But  all  this  has 
passed  away  ;  and  Dr.  Hodges  has  left  us  to  return 
no  more.  Yes  ;  and  Trinity  Church  owed  this  emi- 
nent musician  a  debt  of  gratitude  for  the  great  and 
good  work  he  had  accomplished  in  the  Parish  dur- 
ing the  term  of  his  long  and  faithful  service." 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

REMINISCENCES    BY  DR.  S.   PARKMAN  TUCKERMAN. 

THE  following  interesting  extracts  are  from 
letters  written  to  me  while  I  was  residing  in 
England  by  my  Father's  valued  and  appreciative — 
and  my  own  much  lamented — friend,  Dr.  S.  Park- 
man  Tuckerman. 

He  lived  several  years  in  Switzerland,  and  loved 
quaintly  to  style  himself  *'  The  Sage  of  Champery." 

"  Vevay,  i6  May,  j88j. 

"  Your  Father  had  an  awkward  and  difficult  task  before 
him  at  his  trial  day  at  Windsor,  and  I  wonder  if  you  ever 
thought  about  it.  He  came  from  his  CC  manual  and 
CCC  pedal  at  St.  James's  Bristol,  to  play  on  an  FF  man- 
ual and  pedal,  the  latter  down  to  FFF.  Young  Elvey 
had  been  brought  up  on  G  organs,  and  of  course  felt  at 
home  with  the  Chapel  organ.  However  excellent  your 
Father's  performances  may  have  been  on  the  trial  day,  I 
am  sure  they  would  have  been  still  better  had  the  organ 
been  of  a  compass  to  which  he  was  accustomed.  Dr. 
Elvey  told  me  years  afterwards  that  he  should  not  dare 
to  play  upon  a  CC  manual  and  pedal  at  a  public  perform- 
ance. There  is  a  class  of  English  musicians  who  believe 
that  progress  means  standing  still,  and  holding  fast  to 
long-since  exploded   ideas.     Not  so  your  good   Father, 

286 


Reminiscences  287 


who  was  the  first  in  England  to  adopt  the  German  organ 
compass ;  and  though  opposed  by  the  prominent  organ- 
ists (even  Samuel  Wesley)  as  well  as  organ  builders,  he 
won  the  battle,  and  lived  to  see  the  rapid  extinction  of 
the  F  and  G  manuals,  and  the  universal  adoption  of  the 
only  proper  and  legitimate  compass  for  the  organ.  This 
was  a  great  triumph  for  your  Father  which  any  musician 
might  have  been  proud  of." 

''Vevey,  Jan.  /,  1886. 

''  I  read  the  other  day  an  interesting  sketch  of  the  life 
of  Samuel  Wesley.  He  was  born  in  Bristol,  as  well  as 
your  good  Father,  though  there  must  have  been  some 
thirty  years  difference  in  their  ages.  As  a  musician  he 
was  a  man  of  great  ability  ;  and  no  grander  piece  of  pure 
Church  music  was  ever  written  than  his  '  In  Exitu  Israel.' 
He  belongs  to  the  departed  great  ones;  though  many  at 
the  present  day  choose  to  ignore  and  forget  Jiiin  as  well 
as  others  we  wot  of,  who  have  lived  and  passed  away  to  a 
higher  and  better  life. 

**  I  was  much  amused  at  your  comparing  .  .  .  to  a 
bare  7th,  omitting  the  3d  and  5th,  and  you  might  have 
added,  without  '  preparation  '  or  *  resolution.'  Speaking 
of  7ths  reminds  me  of  an  incident  that  occurred  in  York 
before  your  Father's  decease,  and  about  which  I  wrote  to 
him.  Dr.  Monk  saw  on  my  piano  a  printed  copy  of 
*  Hodges  in  E  ';  and  at  my  suggestion  he  took  it  home  to 
read  at  his  leisure.  A  week  or  so  afterward  it  was  re- 
turned with  a  note  expressive  of  pleasure  ;  and  he  also 
said  it  was  the  work  of  a  sound  Church  musician.  He 
did  make  exception  however,  to  the  consecutive  sevenths 
which  occur  at  the  phrase  '  We  acknowledge  Thee.'  I 
however  took  the  ground  that  Dr.  Hodges  knew  what  he 
was  about,  and  intended  to  write  the  passage  exactly  as 
it  stands.     After  this  I  wrote  a  little  article  on  the  sub- 


288  Edward  Hodges 


ject,  expressing  great  admiration  for  the  beautiful  effect 
produced,  notwithstanding  that  a  rule  had  been  set  aside 
to  gain  it.  It  was  afterwards  printed  in  one  of  the  Lon- 
don Musical  Journals. 

"  Dr.  Stainer  some  years  after,  published  an  Evening 
Service  with  an  instance  of  consecutive  sharp  sevenths 
in  the  Magnificat ;  and  the  reviewers,  one  and  all,  pitched 
into  him  for  breaking  a  recognized  musical  law.  And  he 
still  lives,  and  the  objectional  sevenths  stand  out  in  his 
score  as  sharply  as  ever.  Sir  Walter  Scott  compared  critics 
to  'bungling  tinkers,  who  often  make  more  holes  than 
they  mend.'  May  not  this  wise  saying  be  aptly  applied 
to  the  genus  musicale?" 

(There  are  two  examples  of  consecutive  sevenths 
in  the  beautiful  Fugue  No.  i8  of  the  "48."— F.  H. 
H.) 

I  received  the  following  letter  from  Dr.  Parker- 
man  in  answer  to  one  in  which  I  gave  my  impres- 
sions on  hearing  the  "  Mass  in  B  minor,"  by  John 
Sebastian  Bach,  at  the  Royal  Albert  Hall,  London. 
I  had  remarked  that  at  some  most  impressive  and 
powerful  passages,  in  the  Creed  especially,  I  had 
missed  the  organ  pedals  ;  and  my  thought  reverted 
to  my  Father,  whose  use  of  the  organ  with  an  or- 
chestra was  so  remarkably  effective. 

"  In  regard  to  the  absence  of  the  pedals  16  and  32  in 
certain  places  in  the  Mass  where  the  ear  not  only  expected 
but  yearned  for  them,  the  omission  of  them  I  think,  was 
a  mere  whim  of  the  conductor,  and  probably  Dr.  Stainer 
had  to  yield  to  it.  Costa  used  to  do  the  same  thing  in  a 
rough  way  and  would    give  no  reason.     In  the  Chorus 


Reminiscences  289 

*  He  sent  a  thick  darkness,*  where  the  pedals  are  so 
grandly  effective,  Costa  would  say  '  I  will  not  allow  dat 
organ  to  buz  so  !  It  is  not  in  de  score ! '  I  can  readily 
understand  that  old  memories  of  your  dear  Father  and 
his  remarkable  abilities  were  suggested  by  the  performance 
of  Bach's  great  masterpiece.  No  musician  of  his  day,  or 
even  since,  had  a  deeper  knowledge  or  a  truer  appreciation 
of  the  great  Cantor  than  he. 

"  Bach's  '  Forty-eight  Preludes  and  Fugues  '  (his  musi- 
cal Bible)  were  his  daily  study  and  delight ;  the  well- 
known  volume  holding  its  accustomed  place  on  his  grand 
piano-forte  so  long  as  I  can  remember  his  study  in  the 
house  he  occupied  in  Hudson  Street. 

"  That  famous  book  was  indeed  in  my  early  days  a  book 
of  mysteries  to  me  and  utterly  incomprehensible  ;  but  to 
your  Father  it  was  his  daily  musical  sustenance ;  and, 
coupled  with  his  knowledge  of  and  reverence  for  Handel, 
the  secret  of  his  great  Musicianship. 

"  The  first  time  I  heard,  saw,  and  spoke  to  Dr.  Hodges, 
was  in  St.  John's  Chapel  in  New  York;  the  year  1840  or 
1841.  My  old  teacher  Zeuner  was  with  me  and  we  sat  in 
a  front  pew  at  the  end  of  the  South  gaWtry.  After  ser- 
vice, Zeuner  (who  rarely  spoke  well  of  any  one)  said  '  Ze 
Doctare  plays  finely  ;  we  shall  go  and  speak  to  him  ';  and 
we  did.  How  kind  and  gentle  his  manner  !  And  how 
pleased  he  seemed  when  I  stammered  out  my  thanks,  and 
admiration  of  his  playing,  which  was  a  perfect  revelation 
to  me  and  made  me  cry  !  Of  course  my  opinion  in  his 
eyes  could  have  had  but  little  value,  yet  it  was  a  sincere 
appreciation  of  his  talent  on  my  part,  so  far  as  I  had  the 
musical  knowledge  to  understand  him." 

"  June  27,  1886. 

'*  Many  years  ago,  when  in  the  (to  me)  sacred  precincts 
of  your  Father's  study  in   Hudson  Street,   New  York,  I 

asked  the  good  man  to  tell  me  why  he  wrote  the  first 

19 


290  Edward  Hod^res 


^5 


'  Holy'  in  '  Hodges  in  C'  without  a  tJiird.  I  cannot  re- 
call his  reply  at  this  distant  day,  yet  we  both  know  he 
did  nothing  without  a  reason.  My  copy  of  the  original 
score  is  at  home  and  I  cannot  refer  to  it.  Can  you  sug- 
gest a  reason  why  Bass  and  Tenor  are  thus  placed  ?  " 


In  reply  I  wrote  : 

"  Dear  Doctor  : — 

**  Why  •  suggest  a  reason  '  ?  My  Father  wrote  it. 
It  is  bold.  It  is  very  beautiful  in  its  effect ;  why 
say  anything  further  ?  The  very  laws  of  harmony 
are  sufficient  to  interpret  it.  It  was  laid  hold  of  by 
Clarke-Whitfeld  in  1825.  He  wrote  my  Father  '/ 
would  not  have  done  it.'  Probably  not.  But  the 
young  man  of  twenty-eight  whose  Doctorate  he 
had  done  his  best  to  oppose,  did  it,  and  saw  the 
force  and  beauty  of  it.  It  is  by  such  boldness  that 
Musicians  teach  us.  While  some  minds  are  cavil- 
ling, and  others  timidly  jogging  along  the  beaten 
track,  a  musician  leaps  the  barriers.  It  seemed 
most  natural  for  my  Father  to  do  it.  To  have  put 
the  3d  in  the  second  'Holy'  would  have  made  it 
a  common  passage  at  once.  I  can  never  forget  the 
effect  produced  on  my  mind  by  that  very  passage 
when    I    heard    my    Father   render   it    in    Trinity 


Reminiscences  291 


Church.  There  is  a  silence — and  then  in  the  dis- 
tant, indefinable  softness  of  the  organ,  the  tonic, 
fifth  and  third — the  mysterious  triad,  fall  on  the 
expectant  ear.  When  the  second  '  Ter  Sanctus ' 
comes  in  (^fortissimo),  with  full  burst,  there  is  a  per- 
fect completeness  and  satisfaction,  while  the  effect 
is  overpowering.  Only  lately  I  heard  Berthold 
Tours  play  it, — and  appear  to  enjoy  it, — unques- 
tioningly.  In  August  last  I  heard  the  '  Te  Deum  ' 
well  rendered  at  Wells  Cathedral  ;  where  it  is  in 
constant  use  and  well  understood." 
My  friend  continues  : 

"  It  seems  that  I  am  not  the  only  one  who  has  sought  a 
reason  for  the  incomplete  Triad  in  your  Father's  '  Service 
in  C  ! '  That  you  have  given,  is,  however,  satisfactory,  if 
it  expresses  the  Composer's  views.  At  any  rate  we  may 
conclude  it  was  done  designedly,  and  for  a  purpose. 
What  Dr.  Clarke  said  in  reference  to  it  is,  and  was,  of  no 
consequence.  He  wrote  heaps  of  commonplace  musical 
phrases,  both  in  his  Services  and  Anthems ;  the  probable 
cause  of  his  popularity  some  sixty  years  ago.  I  remem- 
ber asking  your  Father  once,  why  '  Clarke  in  F  '  had  never 
been  sung  in  Trinity  Church?  His  reply  was,  'Look  at 
the  fifth  verse  '  ;  where  I  found  the  word  *  Holy '  used 
but  twice  I  or  else  it  may  have  been  fotir  times;  I  forget 
which.     At  any  rate  /  corrected  the  grave  error  without 

tampering  with  the  music,  and  restored  the  proper  read- 

•       » > 
ing. 

"  Champe'ry,  Valais,  July  22,  1886. 

*'  The  only  information  I  can  give  about  the  Organ  in 
St.  James's   Church,  Bristol,   is  from   memory-.     I  saw  it 


292  Edward  Hodges 


first  in  1849,  ^^^  ^  remember  writing  to  your  Father 
about  its  condition  about  that  time.  At  home  I  have  its 
full  history  in  type,  written  I  conclude  about  the  time  the 
new  old  Organ  was  first  used,  some  sixty  years  ago. 

"  There  was  a  triple  Swell  Box,  and  three  sets  of  thin 
Venetian  Blinds,  so  called.  They  were  adjusted  ingeni- 
ously. The  first  pressure  upon  the  Swell  pedal  opened  the 
inner  blind.  The  second  the  middle  one,  and  the  third 
pressure  gradually  opened  the  entire  Swell.  Very  grand 
effects  were  possible  from  the  Swell  manual,  if  judiciously 
managed  ;  and  very  annoying  results  followed  where  a 
pumping  style  was  adopted.  There  was  a  perceptible 
hitch  in  the  Swell  pedal  as  the  three  sets  of  blinds  were  suc- 
cessively opened,  and  probably  this  was  designed   as   a 

guide  to  the  player.    The 
pedal  keys  were  of  iron, 
invented  by  your  Father, 
3  and    first    introduced   in 

this  organ.  There  was  a  16  ft.  pipe,  speaking  a  32  ft. 
tone,  but  decidedly  yf/Z/^j  throughout.  The  construction 
was  planned  and  carried  out  entirely  by  your  Father's 
direction,  and  the  specification  wholly  his.  It  was  the 
first  CC  Manual  and  CCC  Pedal  made  in  England  ;  and 
this  *  innovation'  (as  the  fools  called  it)  originated  with 
your  Father,  as  far  as  his  own  country  was  concerned. 

**  The  same  plans  with  improvements  were  adopted  in 
Trinity  Church,  New  York  and  its  Chapel  of  Ease;  also 
in  St.  John's  Chapel ;  but  not  in  St.  Paul's. 

"  My  authority  for  all  I  have  told  you  is  personal  ex- 
amination of  the  St.  James's  organ,  and  it  entirely  agrees 
with  the  printed  account  I  have  at  home.  Hopkins's  His- 
tory has  but  a  meagre  account.  The  dust  and  dirt  that 
I  accumulated  in  my  two  visits  to  that  exalted  organ 
gallery  should  be  sufficient  proof  that  my  examination 
was  thorough  and  my  reports  correct. 


->•>-,■> 


} 


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Reminiscences  293 


"  I  suppose  you  know  that  '  Hodges  in  D  '  used  to  be 
known  as  the  '  New  York  Service.'  And  I  was  told  by 
some  one,  whom  I  remember  not,  that  '  Jackson  in  E  flat ' 
being  very  popular  in  Trinity  Parish,  your  Father  was 
induced  to  write  a  service  which  should  be  pleasing  and 
at  the  same  time  of  a  far  higher  type  than  Jackson's 
music,  which  Jebb  calls  rowdy  and  vulgar." 

''Aug.  1st,  1886. 

"  Everything  and  everybody  whether  musical  or  other- 
wise must  move  in  the  accustomed  grooves  or  channels 
in  accordance  with  precedents  long  established.  This 
you  will  admit.  Therefore  can  you  reasonably  expect 
that  the  Church  Music  your  good  Father  left  behind  him 
is  to  come  into  immediate  use,  or  be  received  as  standard 
works  in  the  Cathedral  and  Parish  Churches  of  England  ? 
You  have  done  nobly  in  the  good  work ;  and  with  time 
and  patience  your  reward  is  sure  to  come,  though  you 
may  not  live  to  see  it. 

''Could  your  Father  have  been  persuaded  in  1846  to 
send  to  England  all  his  Services  and  Anthems  adapted  to 
the  English  Prayer  Book,  I  believe  his  music  now  would 
be  in  use,  and  his  name  and  talents  fully  recognized  and 
appreciated  by  the  present  generation.  These  appear  to 
be  the  true  reasons  why  your  Father's  music  is  as  yet 
coldly  received  in  England,  and  you  must  remember  that 
during  the  last  twenty  or  thirty  years,  Goss  and  musicians 
of  his  stamp  have  been  pushed  aside  for  younger  writers 
who  now  possess  the  popular  ear,  to  the  exclusion  of  the 
old  Cathedral  musicians  and  their  successors." 

"Your  idea  of  writing  your  Father's  life  is  a  capital 
one,  but  I  cannot  but  wonder  why  you  have  deferred  it 
so  long.  You  must  read  my  tribute  to  his  memory,  for  I 
feel  that  I  knew  and  appreciated  him  in  the  United 
States  better  than  any  one  outside  his  own  family. 


294  Edward  Hodges 


**  When  last  in  Boston,  Clarence  Dorr,  a  stock-broker, 
as  well  as  an  enthusiastic  lover  of  Church  music  met  me 
on  State  Street,  and  said  to  me  *  Come  into  my  office, 
and  I  will  show  you  something  I  greatly  prize.'  He  then 
opened  his  safe  and  unlocked  a  bank  trunk,  from  the 
bottom  of  which  he  brought  to  light  two  of  your  Father's 
letters  dated  somewhere  in  the  Forties.  I  was  not  asked 
to  read  them,  but  was  pleased  to  find  that  after  so  many 
years  had  passed,  this  musical  stock-broker  continued  to 
cherish  his  admiration  for  your  Father. 

"  Dorr  used  to  say  we  never  had  but  one  great  organist 
and  thorough  Church  musician — that  was  Dr.  Hodges." 

"  Vevey,  Apr.  ig,  1886. 

"  In  reply  to  your  question  what  were  the  great  leading 
points  in  your  Father's  organ  playing,  I  should  answer 
first,  that  what  he  played,  how  he  played  and  when  he 
played,  gave  me  the  impression  of  a  power  in  reserve, 
subject  to  his  use  when  required.  He  had  a  clearly  de- 
fined purpose  in  what  he  played,  and  every  phrase,  chord, 
or  sequence  of  chords  had  a  meaning.  Dr.  Hodges's  vol- 
untaries both  before  and  after  service  might  be  described 
as  short  but  complete  musical  sketches  or  finished  pic- 
tures, which  only  a  Master's  hand  and  mind  could  have 
produced.  Yet  how  few  there  were  amongst  the  listeners 
who  could  appreciate  his  performance !  I  remember 
standing  by  your  Father's  side  one  Sunday  morning  when 
he  was  playing  the  introductory  voluntary.  Your  brother 
J.  S.  B.  H.  accosted  him  thus — *  Sir,  Dr.  Berrian  seems 
impatient  to  begin  the  service,'  and  the  reply  was,  *  He 
must  wait  until  I  have  finished  this  phrase.' 

"  To  sum  up.  Dr.  Hodges's  organ  playing  was  not  only 
masterly  from  a  musician's  standpoint,  but  it  was  refined, 
and  in  a  marked  sense  that  of  a  Christian  gentleman.    No 


Reminiscences  295 


one  ever  heard  anything  from  his  hands  that  could  be 
called  common-place  or  inappropriate  for  organ  use ;  and 
when  I  look  back  to  the  New  York  of  forty  years  ago, 
Dr.  Hodges  stood  alone,  as  a  bright  and  shining  light 
amid  the  musical  darkness  and  ignorance  of  that  period." 

Regarding  the  appointment  of  organists  in  ca- 
thedrals my  friend  remarks  : 

'*  Fifty  years  ago  (and  so  it  is  at  the  present  day)  Deans 
and  Chapters  required  candidates  for  an  organist's  po- 
sition to  be  Cathedral-bred.  Their  testimonials  as  to  musi- 
cal ability  and  good  character  were  (alone)  not  sufficient. 
The  question  was.  From  which  cathedral  did  you  gradu- 
ate, and,  as  a  chorister,  did  you  serve  out  your  full  time? 
I  have  not  the  slightest  doubt  that  your  Father  would 
have  attained  high  rank  and  a  cathedral  position  in  Eng- 
land, as  he  richly  deserved,  had  the  days  of  his  boyhood 
been  passed  in  the  choir  of  Bristol  Cathedral. 

''Samuel  Wesley,  with  all  his  remarkable  abilities  and 
musical  scholarship,  was  kept  out  of  the  cathedrals  be- 
cause not  cathedral-bred.  Dr.  Monk  would  have  been 
rejected  at  York  for  the  same  reason,  had  not  Sir  Fred- 
erick Ouseley's  great  influence  and  friendship  carried  him 
in  above  all  other  competitors. 

"Why  is  Sir  George  McFarren's  Church  music  seldom 
heard  in  Cathedral  Choirs,  or  even  Parish  Churches  where 
good  organists  and  effective  choirs  exist?  Because  he 
received  his  musical  education  at  the  Royal  Academy 
instead  of  a  cathedral,  therefore  the  orthodox  character 
of  his  music  is  called  in  question  and  for  that  reason  only. 
One  more  example  and  I  stop. 

"  Best  told  me  that  years  ago  he  gave  up  all  expecta- 
tion of  obtaining  any  desirable  Church  preferment,  such 
as  a  man  of  his  eminence  as  an  executant  and  composer 


296  Edward  Hodges 


entitled  him  to.     The  reason  he  gave,  '  I  was  not  bred  in 
a  cathedral ;  a  sine  qua  7ion  for  any  desirable  position.'  " 

*'  My  correspondence  with  your  good  Father  taught  me 
how  to  construct  a  good  letter,  which  I  never  learned  at 
school.  His  letters  upon  any  and  all  subjects  were  per- 
fect models,  and  ready  to  put  into  type  the  moment  they 
left  his  pen." 

"  The  gifted  Samuel  Wesley  and  his  clever  and  erratic 
son  Sebastian  recognized  your  Father's  great  abilities ; 
the  latter  told  me  as  much  on  my  visit  to  him  in  Win- 
chester in  1861.  But  what  can  that  avail  us  now?  They 
have  passed  within  the  veil.  There  is  not  one  of  your 
Father's  contemporaries  living  but  Sir  George  Elvey,  the 
successful  candidate  for  St.  George's  Chapel,  when  your 
Father  was  his  chief  rival  at  the  trial. 

"  Dr.  Hodges  was  indeed  a  bright  and  shining  light  in 
his  day  and  generation ;  a  good  husband  and  father,  a 
warm  and  sincere  friend,  a  learned  and  accomplished 
musician,  and  above  all,  a  devout  and  sincere  Christian, 
and  this  is  by  no  means  all  that  might  be  said  of  him. 
Surely,  is  not  the  world  better  for  such  a  life  as  he  lived  ? 

*'  In  giving  to  the  world  a  Memorial  of  your  dear  Father 
it  should  be  well  considered  there  is  danger  of  overdoing  ; 
for  a  woman's  style  is  always  more  diffuse  than  a  man's. 
Forgive  me  for  making  these  suggestions,  and  doubt  not 
they  come  only  from  the  heart,  with  the  desire  that  your 
loving  task  should  be  successful. 

"  I  am  charmed  and  delighted  that  our  gifted  and  clever 
friend,  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Hopkins  has  furnished  a  tribute  to 
your  good  Father's  memory.  Such  a  testimonial  as  his 
pen  would  furnish  would  in  my  eyes  be  of  great  value. 
Dr.  Hopkins  will  remember  your  Father  in  the  days  of 
his  fame  and  glory ;  and  moreover  he  was  even  in  those 
far   distant    days,  musician   enough   to    appreciate   your 


Reminiscences 


297 


Father's  true  missionary  work  in  the  Church,  and  at  a 
period  when  *  Jackson  in  F '  and  what  I  might  call  musi- 
cal twaddle  were  generally  accepted  as  true  Church  music. 
Plain  Song  is  good  in  its  way ;  but  plain  speaking  is  better 
when  you  want  to  enunciate  the  truth." 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 


CONCLUSION. 


IN  reading  and  copying  words  written  with  a  deep 
love  for  my  Father,  by  Dr.  Tuckerman,  I  laid 
down  my  pen  and  fell  into  a  reverie.  As  I  called 
up  the  past  and  heard  again  the  voices,  and  even 
the  foot-falls  of  so  many — so  many  who  were  with 
me  living  presences  and  inspiring  minds,  as  well  as 
warm  personalities,  I  seemed  to  lose  myself  in  one 
of  those  surging  floods  of  many  memories  which  at 
times  sweep  over  one's  soul.  Those  gone  are  yet 
so  near ;  their  faces  seem  yet  to  be  only  unseen  be- 
cause my  eyes  are  holden.  They  glide  past  me  and 
I  realize  myself  as  one  standing  solitary  on  an 
ocean  shore.  One  by  one  they  have  entered  the 
waiting  boat,  and  pushed  away  over  the  chilly  waters 
in  the  shimmering  gleam  towards  the  distant  sunset- 
light.  **  Abii  ad  plures !  "  Yes  ;  the  majority  are 
there  !  Of  my  Father's  friends,  those  who  loved 
him,  some  fell  in  their  golden  youth,  ere  the  promise 

of  life  was  full ;  some  in  manhood  ;  and  some  had 

298 


Conclusion  299 


reached  and  o^one  over  the  allotted  time.  All  turn 
on  me  a  radiant  countenance  as  they  pass  in  memory 
before  me  and  seem  to  say,  ''  But  a  little  while  " 
(one  of  the  ''  little  whiles  of  Christ  "  which  I  heard 
so  beautifully  brought  out  by  Canon  Cross  of  Chi- 
chester) ;  "  and  it  is  for  you  to  collect  the  words  we 
said  to  you  of  one  who  to  us  was  so  much,  and  whose 
influence  may  even  now  be  adding  to  ourhappinessin 
this,  to  you  at  present,  unknown  life."    Who  knows  ? 

I  add  with  pleasure  these  words,  which  were  writ- 
ten to  me  on  perusal  of  my  manuscript,  by  a  valued 
friend,  the  Rev.  J.  H.  McCracken. 

''^  Snug  Harbor,   Water  bury.  Conn., 
'^  20th  Septe?nber,  iSg4. 

**  My  dear  Miss  Hodges: 

"  The  last  page  has  been  read,  not  with  the  care  and 
time  that  I  should  like  to  have  given,  but  with  the  sense 
of  its  being  a  great  privilege  that  I  have  enjoyed. 

"  It  reminds  me  of  what  the  present  Bishop  Nichols,  of 
California,  once  said — that  he  found  a  good  Biography 
the  most  helpful,  devotional  reading,  contrasting  it  with 
other  books  written  to  be  devotional. 

"  It  is  a  tonic  to  come  in  contact  with  a  strong,  buoyant, 
devout  nature  like  your  Father's;  and  his  mastery  over  his 
instrument  and  manly  way  of  acquiring  and  holding  it  goes 
with  one  as  a  beneficent  stimulus  and  guide  in  one's  own  life. 

"  Such,  too,  may  I  add,  is  your  own  influence,  with  the 
charm  added  that  only  personal  converse  can  convey. 

'*  Yours  faithfully, 

''J.  H.  McCrackex." 


300  Edward  Hodges 


And  now  my  book  must  close,  but  the  subject 
lies  grandly  open. 

If  I  were  asked  where  my  nearest  tie  to  my 
Father  lies,  I  should  be  true  in  saying,  In  God's 
Holy  Word,  and  in  the  association  of  it  with  his 
own  Sacred  Music. 

Here,  he  is  ever  fresh,  ever  present.  It  is  not 
that  ''\i^  said''  this  or  that,  but  '^  he  is  saying  it 


710W." 


And  is  he  nearer  in  this  than  in  the  dear  remem- 
brance of  his  face  and  form  ?  Yes  :  I  think  so.  It 
may  prove  much  that  was  said  by  our  Blessed  Lord 
to  His  disciples  as  to  His  bodily  absence,  and  the 
power  of  the  Spirit  He  would  send.  Of  Himself 
— the  earthly  part — He  had  said  to  one  loving  soul, 
"  Touch  me  not."  He  had  gone  beyond  human 
love,  its  imperfections  could  not  reach  Him,  any 
more  than  the  clouds  which  obscure  the  sun's  broad 
light  are  near  its  source. 

Thus,  the  words  of  Holy  Writ,  and  the  parts  of 
our  Church  Service  which  my  Father  chose  to 
weave  into  the  grand  harmony  of  his  own  spirit, 
speak  with  a  three-fold  power :  and  bring  me 
nearer  to  him  than  any  other  thought,  or  scene,  or 
memory,  or  vision  of  the  night. 

Does  it  seem  as  if  this  would  be  the  same  with 
every  father  ? 


Conclusion  301 


No.  I  do  not  think  it  can  be.  Music,  in  the 
way  it  occupied  his  whole  mind,  was  a  blending  of 
his  intellect,  his  imagination,  his  highest  powers  of 
thought,  with  words  of  Divine  Inspiration  which 
have  no  meaning  at  all  unless  they  mean  Every- 
thing:  everything  of  real  moment  which  unites  the 
life  here  with  the  ''  Life  to  come." 

And  Music,  such  as  he  aspired  to,  such  as  he  im- 
agined, such  as  he  constantly  says  he  desires  to 
join  in,  is  the  language  of  that  Life. 

From  morning's  dawn  to  setting  sun, 
The  little  span  is  swiftly  run  ; 
Its  glories,  efforts,  storms,  soon  past — 
The  evening  falls,  and  Peace  at  last. 

He  has  passed  into  the  Aia-c^GGapov^  the  realm  of 
perfect  accord, 

"  Deus  noster  refugium," 
being  the  grand  Aianaaov  of  his  life. 


From  the  Livmg  Church  of  March  2,  1895,  the 
editor  makes  the  following  extract,  as  a  fitting  close 
to  Miss  Hodges's  devoted  filial  tribute  to  her  Father. 

**  No  musician  of  the  present  time  will  be  more 
deeply  lamented  than  Miss  Faustina  Hasse  Hodges, 
who  departed  this  life  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 


302  Edward  Hodges 


on  Feb.  4th.  Up  to  the  very  eve  of  her  illness, 
she  had  devoted  her  life  to  the  study  and  practice 
of  her  musical  art  with  unabated  vigor  and  enthu- 
siasm. She  composed  freely  and  with  a  grace  of 
feeling  which  none  who  ever  heard  her  compositions 
could  forget.  Who  ever  heard  her  beautiful  *  Rose 
Bush,'  or  'Dreams/  or  her  'Suffer  little  children, 
each  one  so  full  of  sentiment  and  feeling,  without 
the  thought  that  its  author  was  wellnigh  inspired  ? 
Her  interpretations  of  Bach's  Fugues  and  other 
recondite  forms  of  classic  art,  were  a  daily  delight 
to  her  choice  circle  of  friends  and  musical  admirers. 
The  past  few  years  of  her  life  had  been  largely  de- 
voted in  preparing  for  publication  a  volume  of 
memorial  studies  from  the  life  of  her  distinguished 
father,  Dr.  Edward  Hodges,  the  founder  and  illus- 
trious representative  of  the  Anglican  cathedral 
school  of  music  in  the  American  Church.  The 
memory  of  his  twenty-five  years'  faithful  service  in 
Trinity  parish.  New  York,  survives  in  vivid  remem- 
brance as  the  earliest  and,  as  yet,  most  splendid 
period  in  the  annals  of  our  musical  liturgies.  No 
greater  example  of  true  and  faithful  filial  devo- 
tion ever  lived  than  this  daughter.  She  has  gone 
to  her  rest." 

THE    END. 


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